Sierra Leone is currently facing a significant mpox outbreak, with cases surging across all 16 regions, including its capital, Freetown. Health officials have implemented a strategy to treat patients at home starting January, aiming to allow vulnerable populations, such as individuals suffering from malaria or pregnancy-related complications, to seek necessary medical care without fear. However, this approach backfired as the virus quickly spread through densely populated urban areas, resulting in an overwhelming increase in infections.
In response, the government set up several isolation and treatment centers, but these facilities are rapidly running out of beds and supplies, with vaccine stockpiles inadequate to meet the rising demands. Compounding the crisis, a public health initiative designed to trace and monitor potential exposure was halted in April, sharply limiting the government's ability to control the outbreak after financial resources were exhausted.
Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, who leads the mpox response for the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted the challenges faced by the country's already fragile health system, particularly as it struggles with the impact of declining development assistance and an ongoing financial crisis. In light of these challenges, the government has issued an urgent appeal for vaccines, which so far has met with limited success. The situation calls for immediate international support to bolster Sierra Leone's response to the escalating health crisis.