FREETOWN, June 1, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Sierra Leonean authorities have called for international help to curb the spread of mpox in the country as a new toll on Saturday showed the number of cases continuing to rise.

A total of 3,350 cases have been recorded since January in the West African country, including 1,779 recoveries and 16 deaths, up from 3,011 cases a week earlier, according to an official report seen by AFP.

That was a smaller increase than the nearly 50 percent rise in registered cases since the previous update on May 13.

"We appreciate our development partners and we will continue to ask for their assistance for the necessary resources to respond to the rising cases of mpox in the country," Deputy Health Minister Charles Senessie told AFP on Friday.