Growing number of Mpox cases in Sierra Leone

According to official sources, Sierra Leone has recently experienced a notable increase in Mpox infections, with 1,140 cases and nine deaths recorded since the beginning of 2025. By the end of April, the death toll had reached six, with 763 cases having been documented. The capital, Freetown, has the highest number of detected cases. This has prompted the Ministry of Health to intensify the vaccination campaign in the capital, border towns, and rural areas, mainly for children aged 12 and over, health workers, and the population in high-risk hotspots. To date, 2,500 individuals have been administered the vaccine. A decade ago, Sierra Leone was among the countries most severely impacted by an Ebola epidemic, which between 2014 and 2016 resulted in the death of approximately 4,000 individuals, including nearly seven percent of healthcare professionals.