ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar

Madagascar has announced the country's first death from mpox, a 3-year-old girl from the island nation’s eastern city of Toamasina who died on Saturday.

After an initial hospitalization, the girl was later moved to a public hospital at her family’s request, where she died, Health Ministry spokesperson Mamy Randria told reporters on Monday.

“Skin rashes were observed on her body. Doctors also noted that the little girl was already very weakened when she arrived at the hospital,” he said.

The girl’s parents said she became ill after a sprained ankle, sought treatment from traditional healers, and faced delays and refusals of care at several hospitals.

Despite objections from her relatives, the ministry said tests confirmed the late child had mpox.

The ministry reported the country’s first five mpox cases last Dec. 30, all detected in Mahajanga, in the Boeny region of western Madagascar.

Since the outbreak began, Madagascar has recorded 457 confirmed mpox cases and 321 recoveries.

*Writing by Mevlut Ozkan from Istanbul