Breaking News: Monkeypox Detected in Sierra Leone – Health Implications
Sierra Leone has confirmed its first case of Mpox (monkeypox) since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024.
The patient is a 27-year-old man from the Western Area Rural District. Health authorities have activated the incident command system to manage and contain the outbreak, including isolating the patient, conducting extensive contact tracing, and monitoring identified contacts for 21 days.
The government is collaborating with international organizations, including the WHO, for technical and logistical support.
This marks the third known occurrence of monkeypox in Sierra Leone, with previous cases reported in 1970 and 2014.