Sierra Leone health authorities have intensified surveillance measures following reported Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a linked imported case in Uganda, although officials say the current risk to the country remains low.
In a statement issued on Friday, the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, said it is closely monitoring developments in the region after the DRC reportedly recorded 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths, while Uganda confirmed one imported fatal case with no evidence of local transmission.
Health authorities stressed that there are currently no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases in Sierra Leone, but said surveillance systems at points of entry and health facilities have been strengthened nationwide as a precaution.
Officials say Sierra Leone’s heightened vigilance is not due to any direct epidemiological link with the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but forms part of a wider regional preparedness strategy. Although Sierra Leone and the DRC are geographically distant and share no land border, health experts warn that infectious diseases such as Ebola can spread across countries through international travel routes, particularly during the virus’ incubation period of 2 to 21 days when infected individuals may show no symptoms. Because of this risk, outbreaks in Central and East Africa are treated as continental alerts, prompting preventive action even in West African states such as Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone remains highly sensitive to Ebola threats following the devastating 2014–2016 outbreak, which caused thousands of deaths and severely strained the country’s health system. That experience has since reshaped national preparedness, including the creation of rapid response teams and strengthened disease surveillance systems. Public health officials say this history explains why even distant outbreaks now trigger immediate readiness measures, including enhanced screening at airports and border crossings, review of isolation capacity, and reinforcement of infection control procedures in hospitals.
The NPHA said it is working closely with regional and international partners, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Economic Community of West African States health structures, and the World Health Organization to track the situation and support early warning systems.
Rapid Response Teams have been placed on standby across all 16 districts, while supplies of personal protective equipment and isolation protocols are being reviewed and replenished.
Health authorities have urged the public to remain calm, avoid misinformation, and adhere to preventive hygiene practices, including regular handwashing and avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals. They also advised against unnecessary travel to affected areas in the DRC and Uganda until further notice, and encouraged citizens to seek immediate medical attention and call 117 if symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding appear.
