WHO-Backed Mpox Drive Slashes Cases by 50% in Sierra Leone
A World Health Organization (WHO)-supported nationwide house-to-house campaign has led to a sharp decline in mpox cases in Sierra Leone, with infections falling by more than 50 per cent within a month.
The initiative, known as the Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response (EIMR), was rolled out from 9 July to 3 August 2025 with a funding injection of over USD 300,000. Implemented by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency and District Health Management Teams, the drive received technical and financial backing from WHO. This included the deployment of nine international technical officers and 35 national African Volunteers Health Corps (AVoHC-SURGE) responders across all 16 districts.
Before the campaign began, Sierra Leone was recording an average of 17 new mpox cases daily. By early August, the figure had dropped to seven, marking a 58 per cent decline. Over 250,000 households were visited during the four-week period, reaching more than 600,000 people with prevention messages.
In addition, 704 suspected cases were investigated, of which 395 tested positive and were quickly isolated and treated. Contact tracing and vaccination reached more than 6,500 individuals, while a further 12,000 people considered high-risk received targeted health education.
“This campaign demonstrated how strong coordination, community engagement, and partner collaboration can turn the tide of an outbreak,” said Dr George Ameh, WHO Representative in Sierra Leone. “From frontline health workers going door to door, to district leaders mobilising resources, and partners aligning behind national priorities, the response was a testament to resilience and solidarity.”
Dr Ameh also acknowledged donor support from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), GAVI, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany, who enabled WHO to reach communities in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The WHO-led effort was bolstered by a wide network of partners, including the World Food Programme (WFP) for logistics, Africa CDC for technical expertise, UNICEF for vaccination support, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) for treatment, and several NGOs such as GOAL, HEADA, and Population Services International (PSI) for mobilisation and health education.
Despite the encouraging results, Sierra Leone continues to battle sporadic cases of mpox. In response, the Ministry of Health and its partners launched phase two of the Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response on 11 August 2025. This next four-week phase will replicate the earlier strategies, with renewed emphasis on surveillance, case management and sustained community engagement.
Sierra Leone confirmed its first case of mpox in January 2025. By May, infections surged to more than 600 confirmed cases in a single week, particularly in Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO in 2022.
Health officials say the ultimate goal is to achieve zero new cases. WHO has pledged continued support to ensure the gains made are consolidated and communities remain protected.
