Claim: Sierra Leone confirms one case of Mpox
Verdict: FALSE
Context: A viral social media post has been circulating, claiming that a confirmed case of Mpox has been identified in Kono, a district in the Eastern region of Sierra Leone. This claim has generated concern and fear among the public, prompting a response from health authorities in the country.
Evidence: On Tuesday, August 20th, 2024, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) held a press conference to address the circulating rumours. During the conference, the Executive Director of NPHA, Professor Foday Sahr, explicitly stated that no confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported in Sierra Leone.
The press statement issued by the agency the same day clarified that there is an ongoing investigation into a suspected Mpox case involving a 32-year-old man from Makong Village, Konikay Sanda Chiefdom, Tonkolili District. However, this case remains unconfirmed, and no official diagnosis of Mpox has been made.
In addition, Harold Thomas, Programme Manager of the Health Education Programme at the Ministry of Health, corroborated the NPHA's statement, reiterating that no Mpox-positive case has been reported in Sierra Leone to date. The Ministry of Health and NPHA are closely monitoring the situation and have urged the public to rely on official channels for accurate information.
Conclusion: The claim that Sierra Leone has confirmed a case of Mpox is false. The National Public Health Agency and the Ministry of Health have both confirmed that no such case has been reported in the country.
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