Sewa News Stream

The monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak in Sierra Leone has expanded over the past six weeks, with cases reportedly rising by over 71% in just one week.  According to a leader from the Africa Centers for Disease Control's Mpox Incident Management Support Team, there are indications that Sierra Leone accounts for half of Africa's confirmed Mpox cases.  However, Mpox is more than just numbers; it is a human story that Sierra Leoneans are honoring through heartfelt social media tributes . Among the deceased is Akmed Sidi Kamara, a mechanical engineer who became an entertainment business owner known as "Black Coffee" to his fans.  After earning a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Fourah Bay College, Kamara pursued a career as a social media influencer, youth activist, and humanitarian, eventually becoming the CEO of Black Coffee House of Entertainment.  In his final days while battling Mpox, Kamara bravely shared his experience with the public, advocating for awaren...

Jason Kindrachuk, PhD, an associate professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Manitoba, has been discussing emerging viruses and Ebola on social media. This weekend, he shared his insights with over 20,000 followers regarding the Mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone, emphasizing the urgent need for vaccines as the situation worsens. Mpox is a dreadful and preventable disease, and the call for vaccines is critical as cases continue to rise.  Deutsche Welle Africa has reported that Sierra Leone has confirmed 3,011 Mpox cases and 14 deaths since the beginning of 2025, reflecting a 50% increase in just 10 days. The outbreak now spans all regions of the country. In response, authorities have converted a police training center in Freetown into a 400-bed treatment facility. Mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox, has been spreading increasingly in Africa since 2022, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare a global health emergency in 2024. Other African countrie...

Physicians from Médecins sans Frontières (MSF or Doctors Without Borders) have recently reported that Sierra Leone is experiencing an outbreak of monkeypox, or MPox, with an average of 120 new cases recorded daily since April 25, 2025.  MSF has rehabilitated an infectious isolation ward in the nation's capital to support the response to the outbreak. They have also donated infection prevention and control materials and installed a chlorine production unit. Furthermore, MSF donated a pickup truck and four motorbikes to the district health management team in Kenema District , located in eastern Sierra Leone, to enhance surveillance and contact tracing for MPox and Lassa Fever. With a population of 8.3 million, Sierra Leone's health system had already been struggling, as highlighted by the Ebola virus epidemic.  A 2022 study revealed that all vaccine doses came from abroad.  On April 23, 2025, Saidu Bah reported that Sierra Leone became the 14th member state of the African ...