By Kemo Cham
The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) of Sierra Leone has warned of the threat posed by the ongoing global Mpox outbreak, urging the public to be vigilant.
The NPHA also outlined measures it says it is implementing against the disease that is caused by the Monkeypox virus which is ravaging several countries on the continent. In a statement, the agency said although no Mpox cases have been confirmed in the country, everyone should be vigilant and ensure they actively participate in preventing the potential spread of the virus in the country.
“While there are no confirmed cases of Mpox in Sierra Leone, we urge everyone to remain cautious and proactive in preventing the virus from spreading,” the statement signed by Brig. General Prof. Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the NPHA, says. It adds that the agency will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as necessary.
The statement follows warning from the Africa Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) last week of the spiralling cases of the virus in a total 16 affected countries on the continent as of the beginning of August.
Data from the continental public health agency show that 18 other countries are at high risk of transmission of the virus.
Although Sierra Leone isn’t considered among the high risk countries, its proximity to Liberia exposes it to risk, Dr Jean Kaseya, Executive Director of the Africa CDC, said.
Dr Kaseya noted that if efforts weren’t made to strengthen surveillance and provide appropriate communication, the extent of the virus in the Sierra Leonean population could turn out to be surprising.
“Sierra Leone is neighbour to Liberia and Liberia is affected and I know the two countries, I know how people are moving between the two countries. It means Sierra Leone, if we don’t strengthen our surveillance, if we don’t provide appropriate communication, we can be surprised by the number of cases in Sierra Leone,” he told journalists during a press brief on the state of the epidemic and the Africa CDC’s response to it.
Mpox is primarily transmitted through close contact with animals and infected humans. Common symptoms include rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
Although most cases of Mpox are mild, the disease can lead to death.
The ongoing global outbreak has been ongoing since 2022, prompting a declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) of a public health emergency of international concern between July 2022 and May 2023.
Data from the global health body show that since January 2022 to August 9, 2024, 38, 465 cases of Mpox have been recorded, with 1, 456 deaths globally.
Mpox was previously known to be endemic in West and Central Africa, but it has been spreading across Europe and the US since this current outbreak started.
The Africa CDC is expected to declare a continental public health emergence today, Tuesday, 13 August, 2024, due to the rising number of the virus.
While contacts with infected animals and humans have been the primary factors of transmission, data show that unprotected sexual habit has been fueling the spread, especially across borders in the east Africa region.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is the current epicenter of the outbreak, from where cases have spread to Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, among others, according to Africa CDC.
Liberia and neighbor Cote d’Ivoire are the two Mano River Union countries having transmission of the virus. Liberia declared its first case in July, 2022, with officials saying that the case was a cross border imported one from Cote d’Ivoire.
In its statement, the NPHA said it has strengthened surveillance system to promptly detected and respond to suspected cases and that it is collaborating with community leaders and organizations to raise awareness about the disease and its prevention. NPHA also said it has equipped health facilities to manage potential cases. It is also coordinating with neighboring countries to monitor and manage cross border transmission risks.
The public is urged to refrain from handling wild animals, practice regular hygiene and ensure food safety. Citizens are also urged to report any symptom promptly for immediate medical attention.
