Sierra Leone Government Declares Public Health Emergency Over Mpox Outbreak

The government of Sierra Leone has declared a Public Health Emergency in response to an outbreak of Mpox.

The announcement was made by Health Minister Dr. Austin Dembi on Monday, following the confirmation of a second case of the viral disease.

The two cases, both adult males, are receiving treatment at Connaught Hospital in Freetown.

The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has deployed teams to conduct contact tracing and enhance surveillance efforts. 25 contacts have been identified so far.

This outbreak comes five months after the Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security. Sierra Leone is the latest country in the Mano River region to report cases.

Health authorities, while expressing confidence in their ability to contain the outbreak, have emphasized the need for vigilance and public cooperation.

Measures to address the situation include public awareness campaigns, enhanced border surveillance, expanded testing capabilities, and strengthened infection prevention protocols in healthcare facilities.