Sierra Leone’s Move To Tackle Mpox: Declares Emergency
Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa, has declared a state emergency after it recorded the second case of Mpox (Monkeypox) in less than 4 days. Health authorities share that neither patients were in contact with infected animals nor sick individuals. They added that both patients were getting treated in a hospital in the Capital, Freetown. The first case involved recent travel to the airport town of Lungi in the Port Loko District between Dec 26 and Jan 6.
The country’s health minister, Austin Demby, spoke to reporters in Freetown and shared that a public health emergency allows acting immediately to take adequate measures and prevent the disease from spreading. He added that border surveillance will be increased, and a national awareness campaign will be launched soon.
According to Austin Demby, Sierra Leone was ready to tackle Mpox cases after gaining experience from the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks. Demby requested all citizens to remain calm and informed and report any suspected cases to healthcare authorities as soon as possible.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) a global health emergency in August 2024 due to its rapid spread.
This virus causes headaches, fevers, and painful boils on the skin. It can spread from person to person via close physical contact. A new variant has emerged over time, which spreads faster than the original Mpox and causes more severe damage.
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