Introduction

Sierra Leone has become the latest country to report cases of mpox, marking a worrying increase in the number of African nations affected by this disease, which now stands at 21.

In a briefing from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), officials highlighted that while eight countries are currently in the control phase of their outbreaks, four—South Africa, Gabon, Morocco, and Zimbabwe—have successfully recorded no new cases in the past three months.

Current Situation and Impact

The Central African region remains the epicenter of mpox outbreaks, responsible for a staggering 85% of all new cases and an alarming 99.2% of total fatalities.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi are identified as the most severely affected nations in this region.

Sierra Leone's Response

In Sierra Leone, health authorities declared a health emergency after identifying two mpox cases within four days.

These patients, hailing from the Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural districts, had no recent travel history, raising concerns about local transmission.

Both individuals are currently hospitalized, receiving the necessary medical attention, while 25 contacts have been traced and are under observation.

A total of 64 suspected cases have emerged, with 62 already tested.

Vaccination Efforts in DRC

Amidst this rising threat, the Africa CDC is enhancing its vaccination strategy in the DRC, where a community vaccination approach will target entire regions reporting cases rather than just contacts of confirmed infections.

The LC16 vaccine from Japan, suitable for young children, is expected to be distributed, and healthcare workers are undergoing training for its administration.

Expectations and Future Plans

Amidst heightened concerns, experts anticipate that the vaccination campaign is poised to commence between late February and early March.

Ongoing discussions with Japanese authorities aim to extend vaccine use to other countries facing similar challenges.

Clinical Trials for Treatment

Additionally, a significant development has emerged in the DRC, where the first patients have been enrolled in a groundbreaking trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of brincidofovir, an antiviral medication developed by Emergent BioSolutions, specifically for treating mpox.

This clinical trial is being conducted at Mbandaka Hospital in Equateur province and is spearheaded by PANTHER (Pandemic Preparedness Platform for Health and Emerging Infections Response), with support from the Africa CDC and initial funding from the European Union.

Conclusion

With vaccination drives ramping up and trials underway, the fight against mpox in Africa is intensifying, raising hopes for better containment and treatment options in the face of this burgeoning health crisis.