Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. A WHO-supported house-to-house Mpox campaign in Sierra Leone has successfully reduced the number of cases nationwide by 50% in just one month, health authorities have reported.
The four-week initiative, valued at USD 300,000, ran from July 9 to August 3, 2025, under the banner “Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response (EIMR).”
Led by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency, and District Health Management Teams, the campaign deployed nine WHO technical officers and 35 national African Volunteers Health Corps – Strengthening and Utilizing Response Group for Emergencies (AVoHC-SURGE) responders to sixteen districts.
The house-to-house campaign strengthened district-level response systems by enabling teams to detect cases early, isolate patients promptly, and prevent community transmission.
Teams investigated suspected cases, engaged private and public health practitioners in surveillance, enhanced community awareness, and ensured safe transfer of confirmed cases to treatment centers. Additional measures included sample collection, laboratory feedback, contact tracing, vaccination, and follow-ups for 21 days.
Before the campaign, Sierra Leone reported an average of 17 new Mpox cases per day. By its conclusion, daily cases had dropped to seven, representing a 58% decrease. The teams visited over 250,000 households, educating more than 600,000 people.
Of 704 suspected cases investigated, 395 (56%) tested positive and received treatment, while more than 6,500 contacts were vaccinated. Over 12,000 high-risk individuals were also reached with targeted disease prevention education.
WHO and local authorities credited the campaign’s success to strong collaboration with partners, including the UK’s FCDO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Danish and Dutch governments, the Gates Foundation, World Food Programme, Africa CDC, HEADA, UNICEF Sierra Leone, GOAL, MSF, and Population Services International. Their combined support, along with community involvement, was pivotal in achieving rapid results.
Officials described the campaign as a major turning point in Sierra Leone’s fight against Mpox, showcasing the effectiveness of community-focused, coordinated public health interventions
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