Sierra Leone battles intense mpox activity as Ethiopia reports first death
June 6, 2025
Mpox activity in Africa is escalating rapidly, with new surges in Sierra Leone and Ethiopia raising alarm. At a recent Africa CDC briefing, Dr. Ngashi Ngongo confirmed nearly 17,845 lab-confirmed cases by May—approaching 2024’s full-year total. Sierra Leone alone accounted for 53% of last week’s cases, and Ethiopia reported its first mpox-related death, an infant. Passive surveillance, high-density populations, and complex transmission dynamics are fueling the spread. Emergency declarations by Africa CDC and WHO remain under review. With new vaccine shipments arriving in the DRC, Sierra Leone, and Ethiopia, equitable distribution and intensified response remain critical for containment.
Mpox continues to pose a growing public health threat across Africa, with a steep rise in infections and troubling signals from newly affected nations. According to Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, head of the Africa CDC’s mpox incident management team, the continent has recorded nearly 17,845 lab-confirmed cases as of May 2025—approaching the entire 2024 total. Sierra Leone remains a major epicenter, accounting for 53% of all cases last week, driven by high population density, tourism, and a troubling test positivity rate of 100% in seven districts, underscoring inadequate surveillance.
The outbreak has also turned deadly in Ethiopia, where an infant became the country’s first recorded mpox fatality. Ethiopia’s case count has surged to 40, with 17 confirmed, and the virus now appears to be spreading northward beyond initial cases along the Kenyan border. Although the specific viral clade is not yet confirmed, authorities suspect Clade 1b—the same strain circulating in Kenya.
As outbreaks expand in newer hotspots like Togo and Ethiopia, the Africa CDC’s emergency committee met last week to evaluate whether mpox still qualifies as a public health emergency of continental concern. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization held its fourth emergency committee meeting yesterday to assess the broader African mpox crisis.
In a promising development, vaccine deliveries are accelerating. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has received 1.5 million LC16 doses from Japan and 100,000 JYNNEOS doses from France. Today, Sierra Leone is expected to receive 20,000 additional doses from the United Arab Emirates.
Despite progress, Dr. Ngongo warned that passive detection, insufficient vaccination coverage, and ongoing transmission across borders are prolonging the crisis. Coordinated action, strategic vaccination, and robust surveillance are imperative. Africa must not be left behind in this global health emergency. The time to intensify efforts is now.