AYV News, January 15, 2025
Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has deployed Teams of health workers at Lumley and Hamilton village as part of heightened surveillance measures to combat the recent outbreak of Monkey Pox (MPOX).
Minister of Health, Dr Austin Dembi announced a new case of the viral disease, bringing to the total to two since the outbreak was declared on Friday, 10th January, 2025.
The victims were identified as a 27-year old male from Hamilton village in the Western Area Rural, who was the first case, and a 21-year old male who resides at Sheriff Drive in Lumley, west end of Freetown.
The men were said to be receiving treatment at the Infectious Diseases Ward at the country’s main referral hospital – Connaught in Freetown.
The outbreak in Sierra Leone comes five months after the Africa Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared MPOX as Public Health Emergency of Continental Security.
Dr. Dembi warned that there can be no room for complacence, hence the need for vigilance and proactive response.
He noted that given the fact that two cases have been recorded in the country indicated that something was happening in the communities that requires explanation.
According to the health authorities, none of the victims have had any known recent contact with animals or symptomatic individuals. And between the two, only one had traveled recently – the first case, who visited the airport town of Lungi in the northern Port Loko district.
Dr. Dembi warned that the cases are likely to increase. “But it does not mean transmission will get out of hand,” he assured, urging citizens to remain calm, stay informed and report all suspected cases to health authorities.
“The declaration demonstrates government’s commitment to deal with the situation by mobilizing resources and prevent further spread,” he stressed.
The Health Ministry and the NPHA have announced some measures in response to the situation, including the launch of a nationwide public awareness campaign, ensuring an enhanced border surveillance to monitor and prevent inflow of new cases from enighbouring countries, and to expand testing capabilities.
The authorities will also strengthen Infection Prevention Control protocols across all healthcare facilities, said Dr Dembi.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the disease a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
According to the latest Africa CDC Joint Continental Situation Report on the MPOX Epidemic (23 September- 03 November 2024), 19 countries were recording cases, with a total of 49, 933 suspected cases. Out of these there were 11, 873 laboratory confirmed cases.
Sierra Leone becomes the last country in the Mano River region to declare outbreak of the Mpox virus, after Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea. Among them, Liberia has recorded the highest number of cases – 19 laboratory confirmed cases, as of December 8, according to data from the National Public Health Institute of Liberia. It recorded over 200 suspected cases.
