By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
The Sierra Leone government has officially declared the end of the Mpox outbreak, as announced by the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) on December 15, 2025.
Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby made the landmark announcement, confirming that the country has fulfilled the World Health Organization’s (WHO) public health criteria by going 42 consecutive days without registering a new case. Health officials reported that all sixteen districts in Sierra Leone have met this safety standard, with certain areas reporting no new infections for more than 150 days.
Since the outbreak was identified and categorized as a Public Health Emergency in January 2025, Sierra Leone documented a total of 5,442 confirmed Mpox cases. Fortunately, 5,382 patients have recovered, resulting in an impressive survival rate of approximately 99 percent, while the case fatality rate stands at 1.1 percent.
The Ministry of Health credited the effective containment of the virus to a comprehensive national response strategy. Over 186,000 individuals received vaccinations, prioritizing healthcare workers and other vulnerable sectors of the population. Contact tracing teams effectively monitored more than 22,500 individuals, and the capacity for national laboratory testing was enhanced with the establishment of nine testing sites.
“This is not mere luck,” Dr. Demby asserted in relation to the successful declaration. “This reflects strong leadership and effective systems in action.”
The announcement also coincides with the second anniversary of the NPHA, which was established to enhance the government’s “whole-of-society” approach to disease surveillance and case management. The government expressed gratitude towards medical personnel and the collaborative efforts of international partners that were instrumental in overcoming this public health crisis.
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