Scaling up mpox outbreak response in Sierra Leone

Freetown ‒ Sierra Leone is deploying a range of measures to manipulate and finish an outbreak of mpox in which 20 instances must this point been reported since the disease was confirmed on 13 January 2025.

The Nationwide Public Well being Agency, with support from companions, including World Well being Organization (WHO), is stepping up disease surveillance to rapid detect instances, present care and prevent further spread of infection. With technical and logistical support from WHO, emergency public health group of workers are enhancing energetic case search and investigation for a more effective outbreak response.

Sierra Leone has been reinforcing preparedness and means to reply to public health emergencies in most up to date years. In November 2024, WHO supported the training of 65 health group of workers and laboratory personnel in diagnostic procedures and sample series. Additionally, 160 health group of workers had been trained on integrated means covering surveillance, case administration, infection prevention and administration, laboratory practices, and risk communication and neighborhood engagement. This proactive means ensured frontline group of workers had been ready to administer the mpox outbreak from the onset.

To further attend curb the spread of the disease, a consignment of 61 300 vaccine doses is anticipated to be delivered in the coming weeks in Sierra Leone thanks to support from WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Africa Amenities for Disease Regulate and Prevention and UNICEF. These organizations will hide operational prices for the vaccination targeting at-risk folks, including health group of workers. Additionally, efforts, coordinated by companions, including UNICEF, are underway to increase public consciousness about the disease in addition to support preventive measures and the importance of seeking sanatorium treatment.

WHO has already delivered over US$ 38 000 rate of significant laboratory supplies and private protective equipment, including gloves, gowns, aprons, face shields, biohazard waste luggage, and infrared thermometers. Supplies also included genomics sequencing reagents, PCR kits for 400 tests, GeneXpert cartridges for 50 tests, and genomic sequencing kits for forty five tests.

Clinical care will be being reinforced. WHO has procured treatment kits for 20 inpatients and 180 outpatients and is providing technical trip to clinicians and varied responders by assisting in the planning of response activities and developing case administration guidelines and training programmes.

“Regardless of numerous challenges, WHO has efficiently mobilized sources at all stages to bring significant commodities, including vaccines,” says Dr George Ameh, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. “We can continue to support the nation to bring this present outbreak below administration.”

An upsurge of mpox (beforehand identified as monkeypox) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and its spread to neighbouring countries was declared a public health emergency of international stammer on 14 August 2024. At total of 22 countries in the African web page have reported instances since 2024, of which 12 right now have energetic outbreaks.

WHO and accomplice organizations are working carefully with the affected countries to contain these outbreaks. According to Professor Foday Sahr, the Director of Sierra Leone’s Nationwide Public Well being Agency, the support by WHO “continues to be certain that our ministry and agency succeed in safeguarding the health of our electorate.”

Mpox is a viral disease introduced on by an orthopoxvirus. It spreads mainly by shut contact with somebody who has mpox, causing a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, and fever. In severe instances, the disease can even be deadly.