Urgent Call for Support as Mpox Outbreak Intensifies in Sierra Leone

Authorities in Sierra Leone face a burgeoning mpox crisis as infections rise sharply across regions, prompting appeals for international assistance amid dwindling vaccine supplies and suspended health campaigns.

Sierra Leone is currently in the grip of a severe mpox outbreak, prompting alarms from health officials who struggle to manage the situation as infections rapidly escalate across the nation. Recent statistics indicate that cases surpass the total number recorded in the previous year, heightening concerns about containment.

In January, Sierra Leone's health authorities initiated a controversial strategy to treat mpox patients in their homes to prevent vulnerable populations, such as pregnant women and malaria patients, from avoiding medical facilities. However, this approach backfired, as the virus spread rapidly through overcrowded urban environments, quickly impacting all 16 regions of the country, including the capital, Freetown.

In response to the spiraling crisis, the government has established several treatment centers aimed at isolating and caring for patients. Unfortunately, these facilities are overwhelmed, with limited beds available and an acute shortage of necessary vaccines. Additionally, a public health tracking initiative designed to monitor potential exposure was halted in April when funding ran dry, leaving many without vital support.

Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, who is overseeing the mpox response for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the dire state of the healthcare system, describing it as already weak and now worsened by a financial crisis resulting from declining international aid. As the situation worsens, the Sierra Leonean government is urgently appealing for vaccine supplies and additional resources to combat the escalating outbreak, signifying a critical moment in the national health crisis.