DAKAR, Senegal -- Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency Monday after the country reported its second case of mpox in less than four days, health authorities said.

Sierra Leone has reported its first confirmed case of Mpox since the world's highest alert level for the potentially deadly viral disease was raised last year.

Sierra Leone declared a public health emergency on Monday to combat mpox, announcing it was stepping up surveillance at its borders after confirming two cases of the deadly viral disease.