Sierra Leone Declares Mpox Outbreak Over, Marks Milestone in Public Health. Freetown, Sierra Leone — 15 December 2025 — Sierra Leone has officially declared the Mpox outbreak over, marking a significant milestone in the country’s public health resilience.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Dr.
Austin H. Demby, during a ceremony at the Freetown City Council Auditorium on Monday, where he highlighted the collective efforts that led to the successful containment of the outbreak.
The outbreak, which began on 9 January 2025, affected all 16 districts of the country.
Dr. Demby emphasized that the declaration came after a rigorous adherence to international public health standards, with no new confirmed cases recorded for at least 42 consecutive days, twice the incubation period of the virus.
Since the first confirmed case, Sierra Leone reported 5,442 confirmed Mpox cases, with 5,382 patients recovering, reflecting a recovery rate of approximately 99 percent.
The case fatality rate stood at 1. 1 percent, with 60 deaths.
The response to the outbreak was unprecedented, with over 186,000 people vaccinated, primarily healthcare workers, contacts of confirmed cases, and other vulnerable groups.
Contact tracing teams monitored over 22,500 individuals, and laboratory capacity expanded significantly, with nine testing sites across the country. Community engagement played a crucial role in the response, with paramount chiefs, religious leaders, youth groups, and civil society organizations actively participating in dispelling misinformation and supporting isolation measures.
Dr.
Demby also recognized the role of President Julius Maada Bio, praising his decisive leadership and the high — level political commitment that ensured timely resource mobilization and coordination across ministries.
The Mpox outbreak has been seen as a major test for the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), which was established following the Ebola crisis.
The agency coordinated surveillance, data management, laboratory testing, and emergency response, demonstrating a maturation of Sierra Leone’s public health architecture.
Despite the milestone, officials emphasized the need for continued vigilance, as Mpox continues to circulate in parts of Africa, and global mobility increases the risk of reintroduction. Dr.
Demby warned that the end of the outbreak does not mean the end of vigilance, and that surveillance, border screening, and community awareness will be sustained.
The declaration of the end of the Mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone represents a shift in how the country confronts public health threats, moving from a reactive approach to a more coordinated and confident response.
The event reinforces the importance of preparedness, trust, and collective action in the face of future public health challenges.
