Sierra Leone has declared a public health emergency to combat the mpox outbreak, after confirming two cases of the deadly viral disease. The decision was made following a 21-year-old man who showed symptoms on January 6.
Health Minister Austin Demby announced increased border surveillance and testing, as well as a national awareness campaign. He also stated that Sierra Leone’s medical system is ready to respond to cases, citing experience gained during the Ebola and Covid-19 outbreaks.
Mpox is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox, characterized by high fever and skin lesions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared its highest level of alert in 2024 after the disease spread globally.
The country has previously been affected by Ebola and has reported nearly seven per cent of health workers killed between 2014 and 2016 during an epidemic that ravaged west Africa.
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1885155/sierra-leone-declares-public-health-emergency-over-mpox