Mpox in Sierra Leone: what’s behind the recent surge and why west Africa is at risk
June 23, 2025
With over 4,000 confirmed mpox cases and 25 deaths as of June 17, 2025, Sierra Leone is facing a rapidly escalating outbreak. Genomic sequencing is underway to trace the virus’s origin, but transmission—primarily among young adults and sex workers—is expanding quickly. As a key regional hub with high mobility, Sierra Leone’s outbreak poses a serious risk to neighboring countries like Liberia and Ghana. Local health authorities are implementing surveillance, contact tracing, and targeted vaccination, but resources remain limited. Without urgent international support, including more testing and vaccines, this could become West Africa’s next regional health crisis.
Sierra Leone is grappling with a fast-spreading mpox outbreak, with more than 4,000 confirmed cases and 25 deaths reported by June 17, 2025. The outbreak’s epicenter may trace back to a single immunocompromised traveler who developed symptoms shortly after sexual contact in Lungi, a busy tourist town that also hosts the country’s only international airport. Genomic sequencing efforts aim to clarify whether this outbreak stems from cryptic local transmission or cross-border importation from West Africa.
Alarmingly, infections are concentrated among young adults, including commercial sex workers and individuals with multiple sexual partners, underscoring the urgent need for targeted risk communication and vaccination strategies. The National Public Health Agency has launched containment efforts, including contact tracing, active surveillance, quarantine protocols, and outreach initiatives. However, resource shortages—especially limited testing infrastructure—are hampering timely diagnosis and intervention. For a nation of over 8 million people, the scarcity of testing centers translates to long result turnaround times and delayed care.
Regional spillover is now a pressing concern. West Africa’s interconnected trade routes and cultural continuity mean diseases cross borders with ease, as seen during the 2014 Ebola crisis. Liberia has already reported 69 cases; Ghana, 98. Without rapid support, Guinea and others may soon follow.
Preventing regional spread will require cross-border cooperation, enhanced surveillance at ports of entry, and support from international donors to expand lab capacity and vaccine access. Sierra Leone’s transparent reporting and swift initial response offer a foundation to build upon—but time is running out. The global health community must act quickly to reinforce local efforts, lest mpox becomes another preventable pandemic born of inaction and inequity.