In less than four days, the West African nation has detected two cases of mpox, prompting health authorities to take swift action to curb the spread of the viral disease.

Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency on Monday after health authorities reported the country's second case of mpox in less than four days. The two patients involved were not known to have been in contact with infected animals or individuals showing symptoms, according to officials. Both individuals are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital, Freetown.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox, previously known as monkeypox, a global health emergency in August 2024 due to the rapid spread of a new strain of the virus. This strain is causing concern as it is believed to spread more easily than other variants, and there is evidence suggesting it leads to a more severe form of the disease. The virus causes symptoms like fever, headaches, and painful skin boils, and can be transmitted from person to person through close physical contact, including sexual intercourse.

Congo has borne the heaviest toll in the ongoing mpox outbreak, with the vast majority of the approximately 43,000 suspected cases and 1,000 deaths across Africa occurring in the central African nation.

The strain now circulating differs from the one that caused a spike in 2022, which primarily affected men. The WHO declared a public health emergency at that time, which lasted until mid-2023. Vaccinating vulnerable groups was key to bringing the outbreak under control.

Sierra Leone was also the epicenter of the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history, which occurred in 2014.