Summary

Sierra Leone has declared a public health emergency after reporting two mpox cases within four days.

The new strain, identified in 2024, spreads more easily and causes severe symptoms, including fever, headaches, and skin boils.

Neither patient had contact with infected animals or individuals.

The WHO declared mpox a global health emergency in 2024 due to its rapid spread, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo bearing the highest case burden.

Sierra Leone, previously hit hard by the 2014 Ebola outbreak, is treating both patients in Freetown.