Mpox Outbreak Intensifies in Sierra Leone Amid Calls for U.S. Aid

Health authorities face a critical situation with rising mpox infections as efforts to control the outbreak are hampered by funding shortages.

Sierra Leone is currently battling a significant mpox outbreak, with health officials in the West African nation reporting alarming transmission rates. Recent figures indicate that infections across the continent have eclipsed last year's totals, prompting urgent action from local and international health organizations.

Since the beginning of the year, Sierra Leonean health authorities implemented a controversial strategy to allow mpox patients to be treated at home. The idea was to encourage those suffering from other health conditions, such as malaria and complications due to pregnancy, not to avoid medical assistance. However, this approach has proven counterproductive, as the virus quickly spread through populous urban regions, impacting all 16 regions of the country, including the capital, Freetown.

In response to the mounting cases, the government has established several centers dedicated to isolating and treating patients. Yet, with beds rapidly filling up and an insufficient supply of vaccines, the health system finds itself on the brink of collapse. A public health campaign aimed at identifying and tracking exposure to the virus has been suspended due to financial constraints. The Sierra Leonean health ministry has made an urgent appeal for vaccines, but the response has been underwhelming.

Dr. Ngashi Ngongo, who heads the mpox response at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, highlighted the fragile nature of Sierra Leone's health system. "It’s a weak health system to start with, now worsened also by the fact that we are in a financial crisis with declining development assistance," she stated.

As the situation worsens, experts emphasize the need for increased support from international partners, notably the United States, to help combat the spread of mpox and restore essential healthcare services within the nation.