FREETOWN, Jan 11 (NNN-XINHUA) — Sierra Leone has recorded its first case of Mpox since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a public health emergency of international concern in August last year, the country’s health authorities announced late Friday.
According to a statement by Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the infected individual is a 27-year-old man from the Western Area Rural District.
Swift actions are being taken by health teams to conduct thorough contact tracing and investigations to identify potential exposures and prevent further transmission of the virus, the statement said.
Health authorities have activated the incident command system to effectively manage and contain the outbreak. Measures include isolating the patient and providing necessary medical care in a secure environment, conducting extensive contact tracing, and monitoring identified contacts for 21 days.
Moreover, the statement said that Sierra Leone is partnering with international organizations, including the WHO, for technical and logistical support.
The NPHA urged the public to remain calm, stay vigilant and adhere to established health guidelines, emphasizing that collective efforts are crucial to controlling the outbreak and safeguarding the nation’s well-being. — NNN-XINHUA