Sierra Leone National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has awarded the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory (SLCFBS Lab) with a special recognition for its outstanding service and scientific contributions during the 2025 Mpox outbreak.
As of September 27, 2025, SLCFBS Lab one of NPHA’s 11 affiliated laboratories processed 3,198 suspected Mpox samples, confirming 2,702 positive cases, which accounts for over half of Sierra Leone’s total of 5,342 cases reported by that date. The lab’s rapid and precise diagnostic work played a vital role in the country’s epidemic response, providing critical data that informed national containment strategies.
This recognition highlights not only the laboratory’s achievements during the Mpox crisis but also marks a decade of successful collaboration between China CDC (Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention) and Sierra Leone. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a “Global Health Community for All.”
The collaboration between China and Sierra Leone traces its roots back to 2014, during the Ebola epidemic that devastated West Africa. In response to the crisis, the Chinese government, through China CDC, established the SLCFBS Lab in Freetown Sierra Leone’s first and only Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility. The lab played a pivotal role in Sierra Leone’s Ebola response, providing diagnostic services, technical expertise, and capacity-building support to strengthen the national health system.
Though originally intended for transfer to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) after the Ebola outbreak, continued technical and financial challenges led China CDC to retain management of the lab. Since then, China CDC has deployed annual expert rotations, ensuring that the SLCFBS Lab remains at the forefront of infectious disease surveillance and response. Over the past decade, the lab has been integral to the country’s efforts in combating Ebola, COVID-19, and now Mpox.
In the 2025 Mpox outbreak, the expert team from China CDC at SLCFBS Lab provided the MoHS and NPHA with reliable data and rapid test results, directly contributing to evidence-based decision-making. In addition to Mpox diagnostics, the lab has continued its work in testing for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), and malaria, while expanding its capacity for epidemiological investigations and training local laboratory professionals.
“The NPHA award is a recognition of the collective dedication of both Chinese and Sierra Leonean scientists,” said Dr. Haimo Shen, China CDC Country Director in Sierra Leone. “As we continue to work under the shared vision of a ‘Global Health Community for All,’ we remain committed to strengthening local capacities, improving public health preparedness, and safeguarding the health of the Sierra Leonean people.”
To commemorate the anniversary of China’s assistance to Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis, China CDC will host a series of events and an international public health academic exchange from November 10–15, 2025, in Freetown. These events will celebrate the successes of the SLCFBS Lab, highlight joint achievements, and explore new opportunities for cooperation in global health research and epidemic preparedness.
Looking ahead, the China CDC expert team will continue overseeing SLCFBS Lab operations, deepening collaborations with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation, NPHA, and international partners, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC. The ongoing partnership will aim to strengthen Sierra Leone’s laboratory network and contribute to broader efforts to bolster public health resilience both regionally and globally.
