Sierra Leone’s Mpox Surge Raises Alarm Across Africa, Says Africa CDC

Health Authorities Warn of Regional Threat as Cases Spike

Sierra Leone is facing a dramatic surge in Mpox cases, triggering concerns across the African continent, according to the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). The health agency warns that without immediate containment measures, this outbreak could escalate into a regional health crisis.

The recent spike in infections is contributing to a broader resurgence of the virus in West and Central Africa. Ngashi Ngongo, Chief of Staff at Africa CDC, shared these findings during a weekly webinar briefing on Friday.

Understanding the Mpox Threat

The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Mpox as a viral infection that spreads through close contact, causing flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions. While typically mild, the disease can be lethal in some cases.

WHO declared Mpox a public health emergency in August 2024 due to its rapid geographic spread and increasing case numbers.

Alarming Statistics from Sierra Leone

Ngongo revealed that Sierra Leone reported 384 confirmed cases in just one week – representing 50.7% of all continental cases. “Sierra Leone, which declared Mpox a public health emergency in January, has seen a 63% jump in confirmed cases in just one week,” he stated.

The country faces significant challenges in managing the outbreak, with only 60 treatment beds available for approximately 800 active cases. Most infected individuals must recover at home due to limited healthcare capacity.

Funding and Infrastructure Challenges

The Africa CDC official identified funding as the primary obstacle to effective response efforts. Contact tracing systems and laboratory capacity also require urgent improvement. Budget constraints have persisted since August 2024, with proposed U.S. funding cuts earlier this year further threatening outbreak containment.

Prevention and Control Measures

Health authorities recommend several preventive measures:

• Avoiding close contact with infected individuals or animals
• Practicing good hand hygiene
• Isolating confirmed cases
• Disinfecting contaminated items
• Using personal protective equipment

Vaccination remains crucial for high-risk groups, while public awareness campaigns are essential for controlling transmission.

Regional Trends

While Sierra Leone struggles with rising cases, other high-burden countries like Uganda and Burundi report declining numbers. Cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo show signs of stabilization.

Source: Premium Times