The Government of Sierra Leone, through the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), has issued an update on the suspected Viral Haemorrhagic Fever (VHF) case reported in Kono.

In a public notice, the NPHA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) provided additional details following laboratory testing conducted by the 34 Military Hospital Infectious Disease Laboratory.

According to the notice, the test results for the suspected case returned as indeterminate.

The inconclusive outcome is attributed to the use of formalin for preserving the body prior to sample collection, which can interfere with accurate testing.

The NPHA confirmed that all identified contacts of the probable case remain asymptomatic. These individuals are being closely monitored during a 21-day observation period, with further testing scheduled at the end of the monitoring timeline to ensure no signs of infection emerge.

The NPHA and MOH have reassured the public of their preparedness to manage any potential disease outbreak. They emphasized the importance of remaining calm and obtaining information only from official channels to avoid misinformation.

The government continues to prioritize health security and urges the public to cooperate with health authorities during this monitoring phase. Further updates will be shared as new information becomes available.