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Sierra Leone Declares Mpox Emergency After Confirming Two Cases


Freetown: Sierra Leone has declared a public health emergency following the confirmation of two mpox cases. ‘Key strategies, including managing the current situation, breaking the chain of transmission, and heightened surveillance are central to the ongoing response,’ the Health Ministry stated in a post on X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sierra Leone confirmed its first mpox case on January 10. Mpox is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox and is characterized by high fever and skin lesions known as vesicles. In 2022, the disease triggered outbreaks in over 70 countries worldwide.

The World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024. In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo remains the most affected, with over 49,000 suspected cases and 1,100 deaths confirmed since January 2024, as reported by the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Sierra Leone was previously the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in 2014.