Sierra Leone Declares Public Health Emergency After Two Confirmed Mpox Cases
Sierra Leone has officially declared a public health emergency after confirming two cases of mpox, a viral disease once primarily associated with Central and West Africa.
Health Minister Austin Demby announced the decision on Monday, following the confirmation of the second case of the virus. This declaration comes after the country reported its first confirmed case of mpox just last week.
The announcement was made in Freetown, the capital, with Minister Demby stating that the confirmation of the two cases warranted immediate action under the Public Health Act. “On behalf of the government of Sierra Leone, I am declaring a public health emergency,” Demby said, signaling the government’s commitment to addressing the outbreak.
The first case, which was reported last week, marked the country’s first since the African Union declared a public health emergency over the growing mpox outbreak across the continent in 2022. The second case was confirmed after a 21-year-old man began showing symptoms on January 6, according to the National Public Health Agency.
Neither of the two patients had reported recent contact with infected animals or individuals with known cases of mpox, although the first case involved travel to Lungi, a town in the Port Loko District, between December 26 and January 6. Both patients are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Freetown.
Minister Demby emphasized that the public health emergency declaration would allow the government to quickly mobilize resources to contain the disease, prevent further transmission, and ensure effective care for those affected. He also announced enhanced border surveillance and testing, alongside a national awareness campaign to educate the public.
“The public health emergency allows us to act immediately to mobilize the resources needed to contain the disease,” Demby explained. “We urge all citizens to remain calm, stay informed, and report any suspected cases promptly to healthcare authorities.”
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox. Symptoms typically include a high fever and skin lesions, called vesicles. While human cases were previously rare and typically linked to direct contact with infected animals, mpox made headlines in 2022 when it spread widely through human-to-human transmission, especially through sexual contact, across more than 70 countries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been hit hardest by the epidemic, with the country accounting for the majority of Africa’s reported cases and deaths.
Sierra Leone, which was at the epicenter of the devastating 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak that killed over 4,000 people, has substantial experience with health crises and is preparing to tackle this new challenge with similar urgency and commitment.
