Sierra Leone is at the moment experiencing a Clade II mpox outbreak, with lively transmission reported throughout a number of districts as of 17 July 2025.
Clade II, a much less virulent variant of the monkeypox virus primarily linked to West Africa, has affected women and men aged 20 to 39 years virtually equally.
Well being officers have confirmed person-to-person transmission, together with by means of intimate contact.
On 11 July 2025, the World Well being Organisation (WHO) reported that the continued mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone is linked to Clade II of the monkeypox virus.
RESPONSE EFFORTS AND VACCINATION
On 16 January 2025, the Minister of Well being, Dr Austin Demby, formally declared mpox a public well being emergency after confirming two instances throughout a number of districts.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has supported the response in Freetown, Kenema, Bombali, and Tonkolili districts. UNICEF additionally delivered 58 000 mpox vaccine doses with Gavi’s help by March 2025.
Gavi has confirmed a further 50 000 doses for allocation, elevating its complete contribution to almost 110 000 vaccines.
CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS REMAIN
Regardless of declining case numbers lately, knowledge must be interpreted cautiously on account of reporting delays.
As of 17 July 2025, mpox vaccination is really helpful for travellers to Sierra Leone partaking in at-risk actions.
The usual protocol for max immunity entails two doses of the JYNNEOS® vaccine, administered 28 days aside.
Because of this, vital gaps persist in vaccine provide, surveillance, case administration, and neighborhood engagement.
GLOBAL CONTEXT AND FUTURE STEPS
On 9 June 2025, the World Well being Organisation reaffirmed that the mpox upsurge continues to represent a Public Well being Emergency of Worldwide Concern (PHEIC) following the fourth assembly of the Worldwide Well being Rules Emergency Committee (IHREC).
Moreover, useful resource constraints threaten the sustainability of operations, impacting personnel and laboratory surveillance.
The worldwide funding requirement of $145 million (roughly R 2.56 billion) for the mpox response stays largely unmet.
This factors out the significance of sustained worldwide funding and coordinated efforts.
WHAT JOINT ACTIONS CAN SUPPORT MPOX CONTROL IN AFFECTED COUNTRIES?
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