Freetown, Sierra Leone
Wednesday, January 15th

The Sierra Leone declared a health emergency on Monday, January 13, mobilizing
to mobilize the necessary resources against mpox, and announced
surveillance at its borders following the confirmation of two
cases.
“The confirmation of two cases of mpox in the country has triggered
immediate action. In accordance with the public health code, on behalf of the government
declare a public health emergency on behalf of the government.
Health Minister Austin Demby told reporters in Freetown.

Last weekend, Sierra Leone declared its first confirmed case of
confirmed case of mpox since the world’s highest alert level for this
alert level against this potentially fatal viral disease.

A second case has since been confirmed in the person of a 21
first symptoms on January 6, like the first case, the French
first case, the Agence nationale de santé publique said on social
social networks on Monday.

The public health emergency “allows us to mobilize the resources
necessary resources to contain the disease, prevent its spread
and provide quality care to those affected”, said the Minister.
said.

He announced a strengthening of border surveillance and testing
and testing capabilities, as well as the launch of a national
awareness campaign.

He assured us that the Sierra Leonean system was ready to respond to
potential developments. He cited the expertise acquired during
Ebola and covid-19 epidemics.

“We urge all our fellow citizens to remain calm
calm, stay informed and promptly report any suspicious cases to the
to the authorities”, he said.

Mpox is caused by a virus in the same family as the dreaded
smallpox. Its main symptoms are high fever and the appearance of skin lesions.
the appearance of skin lesions known as vesicles.

First identified in the Democratic Republic of the
Republic (DRC) in 1970, the disease was long confined to a dozen or so
ten or so African countries.

In 2022, it began to spread to the rest of the world,
including developed countries where the virus had never before circulated.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared its highest alert level
alert level in 2024.

Sierra Leone was one of the countries hardest hit by the Ebola outbreak
West Africa ten years ago. The epidemic killed some
4,000 people, including nearly 7% of healthcare personnel, between 2014 and
2016.

Humaniterre with AFP