Freetown, October 23rd 2025- The Sierra Leone National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has formally recognized the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory (SLCFBS Lab) for its exceptional scientific service during the 2025 Mpox outbreak, marking a decade of bilateral health cooperation.
The award, presented this week, celebrates the lab’s critical role in diagnosing and containing the Mpox virus. Between January and September 27, 2025, the SLCFBS Lab processed 3,198 suspected samples, confirming 2,702 positive cases, over half of the country’s total caseload of 5,342. As one of NPHA’s 11 affiliated laboratories, its rapid diagnostics and data reporting were instrumental in shaping Sierra Leone’s national containment strategy.
“This recognition is a testament to the tireless efforts of both Chinese and Sierra Leonean scientists,” said Dr. Haimo Shen, China CDC Country Director in Sierra Leone. “Together, we continue to build a Global Health Community for All.”
Established in 2014 during the West African Ebola crisis, the SLCFBS Lab remains Sierra Leone’s only Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility. Originally intended for transfer to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), the lab has remained under China CDC’s management due to ongoing technical and financial constraints. Since then, China CDC has maintained annual expert rotations, ensuring the lab’s leadership in infectious disease surveillance and response.
Over the past decade, the lab has supported Sierra Leone’s fight against Ebola, COVID-19, and now Mpox, while also conducting diagnostics for HIV, hepatitis B, and malaria. It has expanded its epidemiological capabilities and trained dozens of local laboratory professionals.
To mark the anniversary of China’s assistance during the Ebola epidemic, China CDC will host a week-long public health academic exchange in Freetown from November 10–15, 2025. The event will showcase the lab’s achievements and explore new avenues for global health collaboration.
Looking ahead, China CDC will continue to oversee operations at the SLCFBS Lab, working closely with MoHS, NPHA, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Africa CDC to strengthen Sierra Leone’s laboratory network and enhance regional public health resilience.
