32-Year-Old Man Dies of Suspected Mpox Disease in Kono

A suspected case of Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, has been reported in Kono District, raising alarm among health authorities.

The case, a 32-year-old male resident of Makong Village, Tonkolili District, succumbed to the illness shortly after being admitted to the Koidu Government Hospital Isolation Unit.

The incident came to light when Dr. Aliyu from Dorma Wellbodi Clinic notified the Kono District Surveillance Office of the suspected Mpox case at approximately 12:45 PM. The District Medical Officer promptly activated the Rapid Response Team, which included clinicians, laboratory technicians, and the District Surveillance Officer, to investigate the case.

Upon arriving at Dorma Wellbodi Clinic, the team found the patient exhibiting severe symptoms consistent with Mpox, including fever, widespread rash, pus-filled blisters, muscle pain, headache, joint pain, and overall weakness. The patient had first developed symptoms on August 12, 2024, after returning from his farm. Despite seeking initial treatment at Makonte MCHP and Makalli CHP, his condition deteriorated, prompting his transfer to the Dorma Wellbodi Clinic.

The patient, known to hunt rodents—a key risk factor for Mpox—had no recent travel history outside his community, narrowing the focus to local transmission. The Rapid Response Team collected a sample for laboratory analysis before evacuating the patient to the isolation unit at Koidu Government Hospital. Tragically, despite efforts to stabilize him, the patient passed away at around 4:30 PM.