Freetown ‒ Sierra Leone is rolling out a series of measures to control and end a mpox outbreak in which 20 cases have so far been reported since the disease was confirmed on January 13, 2025.
The National Public Health Agency, with support from partners including the World Health Organization (WHO), is intensifying disease surveillance to rapidly detect cases, provide care, and prevent further spread of infection. With technical and logistical support from WHO, emergency public health workers are enhancing active case finding and investigation for a more effective response to the outbreak.
Sierra Leone has strengthened its preparedness and capacity to respond to public health emergencies in recent years. In November 2024, WHO supported the training of 65 health workers and laboratory staff in diagnostic procedures and specimen collection. In addition, 160 health workers were trained in an integrated approach covering surveillance, case management, infection prevention and control, laboratory practices, risk communication and community engagement. This proactive approach ensured that frontline workers were prepared to manage the MPOX outbreak from the outset.
To help further curb the spread of the disease, a consignment of 61,300 doses of vaccine is expected to be delivered to Sierra Leone in the coming weeks with support from WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF. These organizations will cover the operational costs of vaccination targeting at-risk individuals, including health workers. In addition, efforts, coordinated by partners including UNICEF, are underway to raise awareness of the disease and encourage preventive measures and the importance of seeking medical attention.
WHO has already delivered more than $38,000 worth of essential laboratory supplies and personal protective equipment, including gloves, gowns, aprons, face shields, biohazard bags and infrared thermometers. The supplies also included genomic sequencing reagents, PCR kits for 400 tests, GeneXpert cartridges for 50 tests and genomic sequencing kits for 45 tests.
Clinical care is also being strengthened. WHO has purchased treatment kits for 20 inpatients and 180 outpatients and is providing technical expertise to clinicians and other stakeholders by helping to plan response activities and develop case management guidelines and training programmes.
“Despite many challenges, WHO has managed to mobilize resources at all levels to deliver essential commodities, including vaccines,” said Dr George Ameh, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. “We will continue to support the country in bringing this current outbreak under control.”
An outbreak of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighboring countries was declared a public health emergency of international concern on 14 August 2024. A total of 22 countries in the African region have reported cases since 2024, of which 12 are currently experiencing active outbreaks.
WHO and partner organizations are working closely with affected countries to contain these outbreaks. According to Professor Foday Sahr, Director of Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency, WHO’s support “continues to ensure that our ministry and agency are successful in protecting the health of our citizens.”
Sheeppox is a viral disease caused by an orthopoxvirus. It is spread primarily through close contact with a person who has sheeppox, causing a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, and fever. In severe cases, the disease can be fatal.
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