Sierra Leone Declares Mpox Outbreak Over After 42 Days With No New Cases

The Government of Sierra Leone has officially declared the Mpox outbreak over, marking a major public health victory for the country.

The announcement was made on Monday, December 15, 2025, by the Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), after Sierra Leone went more than 42 days without recording a single new Mpox case, in line with World Health Organization standards.

All 16 districts in the country have now passed the required threshold, with several districts going more than 150 days without any reported cases.

Mpox was first detected in Sierra Leone in January 2025 and was immediately declared a Public Health Emergency by the Minister of Health. Since then, the country recorded a total of 5,442 confirmed cases, with 5,382 recoveries. This represents a 99 percent recovery rate, while the case fatality rate stood at just 1.1 percent.

Dr. Demby described the achievement as the result of strong leadership and effective systems.

“This is not luck. This is leadership. This is systems at work,” he said.

The successful response was driven by a nationwide effort involving health workers, government institutions, partners, and communities across the country. During the outbreak, the Ministry of Health and its partners vaccinated more than 186,000 people, focusing on healthcare workers and vulnerable groups.

Over 22,500 contacts were traced and monitored, and laboratory testing capacity was expanded to nine sites nationwide.

Through the NPHA, public health services reached communities across the country using a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.

The declaration also coincided with the second anniversary of the National Public Health Agency. Since its establishment two years ago, the NPHA has played a key role in early detection, disease surveillance, and effective management of public health emergencies.

Government officials say the end of the Mpox outbreak is a clear sign of Sierra Leone’s growing strength in public health preparedness and response.