By Emma Black
Sierra Leone is grappling with a worsening Mpox outbreak as 94 new cases were confirmed t bringing the nationwide total to 1,481, the virus continues to spread aggressively, especially in the Western Urban and Rural areas of Freetown, with the Bombali District alone reporting 54 of the new infections.
The Ministry of Health and Sanitation has sounded the alarm, urging the public to observe strict contact precautions and report any symptoms early, to manage the rising number of patients, the government is setting up holding centers in Hastings, Calaba Town, and Port Loko Town.
The Mpox outbreak, which began in early 2025, has now spread to all 16 districts. Koinadugu, the last district previously unaffected, confirmed two new cases over the weekend. The Western Area Urban remains the epicenter with 970 confirmed cases, followed by Western Area Rural with 273. As of the most recent reports, 1,083 cases remain active, and the death toll stands at 10.
Mpox symptoms typically appear between 1 and 21 days after exposure and may last between 2 to 4 weeks, they may persist longer in individuals with weakened immune systems. Common symptoms include, fever, rash often starting on the face or genitals, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, Back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes
According to the ministry of health, while some individuals may first experience fever or rash, others may notice different symptoms initially, if you or anyone around you develops a fever with an unexplained rash, you are advised to immediately call the national emergency line at 117.
Health officials stress that Mpox is not the same as chickenpox, and it requires different medical attention. Public health worker Mr. Thomas emphasized the need for serious public awareness and hygiene practices.
People in Sierra Leone need to be aware of this deadly virus, the most common way to get Mpox is through direct body contact, she explained, we must isolate infected persons, use sanitizers frequently, and keep our homes clean, too many are still ignoring the threat, but the situation is becoming more serious by the day.
In addition to holding centers, the ministry of health is mobilizing more medical teams, distributing personal protective equipment, and conducting community sensitization campaigns, health workers have been deployed across districts to monitor cases and educate communities on how to prevent the spread of the virus.
The government also urges the public to refrain from spreading unverified information and to follow updates only from official channels, as the outbreak intensifies, officials are calling for community cooperation.
We must act now to protect ourselves and our communities, said a senior health official, the quicker we respond, the more lives we can save, the ministry of health continues to monitor the situation closely and promises further updates in the coming days.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 9th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
