MPOX TRACKER

Sierra Leone’s escalating mpox crisis—with over 3,300 cases and 16 deaths since January—underscores the urgent need for international support. Despite opening a 400-bed treatment center and vaccinating over 42,000 frontline workers, the country is struggling to keep pace. Deputy Health Minister Charles Senessie’s appeal for global assistance must be met with swift action. Mpox remains a public health emergency across Africa, and Sierra Leone’s containment efforts are vital not just locally, but regionally. Global solidarity, including vaccine donations and logistical support, is essential to prevent further spread and strengthen the nation’s strained health infrastructure.

300-Word Editorial
The mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone has reached a critical juncture, with 3,350 confirmed cases and 16 deaths reported since January. This growing caseload, despite an apparent slowing in weekly increases, presents a formidable challenge to a health system already under strain. Deputy Health Minister Charles Senessie has issued an urgent call for international assistance, emphasizing the need for sustained logistical, financial, and human resource support.

Authorities have taken commendable steps. A new 400-bed treatment facility in Freetown is now operational, and more than 42,000 healthcare workers have already been vaccinated. An additional 20,000 doses are expected imminently to target high-risk populations. These efforts represent significant national resolve, but the scale and velocity of the outbreak require a broader international response.

Sierra Leone is not alone. Mpox continues to surge across multiple African nations, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, and Tanzania. As a result, the World Health Organization has maintained mpox as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), reinforcing the need for coordinated global action.

Sierra Leone’s experience illustrates the dual challenge of containing disease while simultaneously shoring up weak health systems. Effective containment hinges on rapid diagnostics, accessible treatment, widespread vaccination, and robust surveillance—none of which can be sustainably managed in isolation. Global partners must act decisively, not only to deliver vaccines but to invest in infrastructure that enables long-term disease control and preparedness.

The lessons of COVID-19 and the earlier clade II mpox epidemic remain fresh: infectious diseases recognize no borders. Failing to contain mpox in Sierra Leone now may permit further spread, potentially across West Africa and beyond. Global health security depends on shared responsibility. Now is the time for action.