Sierra Leone has declared a state of emergency following the confirmation of its second case of mpox within a span of four days, as announced by health authorities. The affected individuals had no known recent contact with infected animals or other sick individuals, according to the health ministry.
The first case involved a person who had traveled to the airport town of Lungi in the northern Port Loko District between December 26 and January 6. Both patients are currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital city of Freetown.
Mpox, also known as monkeypox, was initially identified in 1958 during outbreaks of a 'pox-like' disease in monkeys. While historically most human cases were linked to close contact with infected animals in central and West Africa, recent developments have shown that the virus can also spread through sexual contact.
In 2022, mpox outbreaks have been reported in over 70 countries worldwide, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo experiencing the highest number of cases and fatalities. This year alone, there have been approximately 43,000 suspected cases and 1,000 deaths in Africa.
Sierra Leone, previously grappling with the devastating 2014 Ebola outbreak, is no stranger to health emergencies. During the Ebola crisis, the country suffered nearly 4,000 deaths, with a significant impact on its healthcare workforce, losing 7% of its personnel to the epidemic.
As the country faces the challenge of containing the mpox outbreak, authorities are taking swift measures to prevent further spread and ensure the well-being of the population.
For more updates on Africa, visit AP's Africa coverage.
