Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health declared an mpox outbreak in January. By May the country had responded to more than 2,100 cases and 11 people had died from the painful disease, which can cause fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes, and is particularly dangerous for individuals who are immunocompromised. A Task Force team has been working closely with the government to help shore up the response.
SONAR (Strengthening Outbreak Notification And Response) – an initiative of The Global Fund that is implemented by The Task Force for Global Health, in partnership with Africa CDC and the World Health Organization – is working with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health to strengthen surveillance for early detection and reporting, real-time data analysis, and dissemination of epidemiological communication products (epidemiological reports and mpox situation reports) to inform decision-making by public health authorities. Sierra Leone is one of 13 countries where SONAR is active.
See the slideshow below on some of the mpox response activities in Sierra Leone.
- Slide #1: SONAR representative (standing) briefing health care workers on disease surveillance in Kambia district. Photo credit: Joseph Bangura.
- Slide#2: SONAR representatives support active case search in hard-to-reach health facilities in places like Kailahun district. Photo credit: Salieu Jalloh
Slide #3: SONAR team members support data entry for immediate electronic reporting of signals/alerts. Photo credit: Salieu Jalloh
- Slide #4: SONAR engaging other sectors (Military) to strengthen early warning surveillance in the Western Area Urban district. Photo credit: Lilian Admire-Taylor.
- Slide #5: SONAR team members reviewing community signals definitions with community health workers in the Kenema district. Photo credit: Francis Foday.
- Slide #6: SONAR team members supporting Bombali district to provide updates on the mpox outbreak during the partner coordination meeting for resource mobilization. Photo credit: Salieu Jalloh.
- Slides #7: SONAR team members at early action review meeting of the mpox outbreak response in the Bo district. Photo credit: Stephen Kamara.
- Slide#8: SONAR team members supporting community engagement on mpox in Bo district following the first 2 confirmed cases, January 17, 2025 Photo credit: Stephen Kamara.
- Slide #9: SONAR consultant performing records review for missed mpox cases at Kingharman Road hospital, Western Area Urban district. Photo credit: Lilian Admire-Taylor.
Slide#10: SONAR representatives at Aberdeen Women’s Centre Hospital, supporting the Western Area Urban District surveillance team on mpox case investigation. Photo credit: Lilian Admire-Taylor.
