Sierra Leone declares emergency after confirming 2nd mpox case in 4 days
January 13, 2025
Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency following two mpox cases within four days, signaling rising concerns about viral spread. Both patients, treated in Freetown, had no recent contact with infected animals or individuals, with only one having traveled recently. Mpox, initially confined to Central and West Africa, has seen unprecedented global spread since 2022, with transmission confirmed via sexual contact. Sierra Leone, already bearing scars from the 2014 Ebola crisis, must act swiftly to strengthen its healthcare system, strained by past epidemics. This emergency underscores the ongoing need for vigilance, robust health infrastructure, and international collaboration to combat outbreaks.
Sierra Leone has declared a state of emergency after reporting two mpox cases in less than four days, raising alarm over the viral disease’s spread. Neither patient had recent contact with infected animals or sick individuals, and only one had limited travel history within the country. Both are receiving treatment in Freetown. Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was first identified in monkeys in 1958 and primarily affected people in Central and West Africa until global outbreaks began in 2022. The virus’s spread through sexual contact marked a new phase, triggering outbreaks in over 70 countries.
Africa has been disproportionately affected, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for most of the continent’s 43,000 suspected cases and 1,000 deaths in 2023. Sierra Leone’s swift emergency declaration reflects a deep awareness of the challenges posed by public health crises, rooted in its traumatic experience during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. That epidemic, the deadliest in history, claimed nearly 4,000 lives in Sierra Leone and decimated its healthcare workforce, with 7% lost to the disease.
The current mpox outbreak adds strain to a healthcare system still recovering from the devastation of Ebola. This emergency highlights the urgent need for strengthened health infrastructure, enhanced disease surveillance, and education campaigns to mitigate further spread. Global collaboration is essential to provide technical and financial support, ensuring countries like Sierra Leone are equipped to address recurring health threats.
By acting decisively with a state of emergency, Sierra Leone sends a clear message about the seriousness of this outbreak. However, its success will depend on sustained vigilance, community engagement, and international solidarity in combating mpox while building long-term resilience against future public health emergencies.