Sierra Leone’s National Public Health Agency (NPHA) and the Ministry of Health have confirmed an outbreak of cutaneous ulcers in the Bombali District of the Northern Province, health authorities said.
The outbreak was first detected in late 2025 in the Kayassic Community of Safroko Limba Chiefdom and has since spread to 27 communities, with 267 suspected cases reported. Roughly 150 people have recovered, and no deaths or severe hospitalisations have been recorded so far, officials said. 
Laboratory testing has confirmed Haemophilus ducreyi, a bacterium that can cause painful skin ulcers, as the causative agent in many cases. Children between the ages of 5 and 15 make up the majority of those affected. 
Symptoms include painful skin sores on limbs, swollen lymph nodes near the lesions, and mild fever or fatigue, health authorities noted. 
The NPHA has activated a comprehensive response, including community-based case management, clinical care, infection control measures and training for health workers. Members of affected communities are advised to practice good hygiene, promptly report suspicious skin lesions and avoid sharing personal items like towels or clothing. 
Health officials described the outbreak as under control, but said active follow-up of more than 200 close contacts is ongoing to curtail further transmission. 
Cutaneous ulcers in tropical regions can resemble other neglected skin-related tropical diseases; conditions like Buruli ulcer and cutaneous leishmaniasis also feature ulcerative lesions, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis and laboratory confirmation in outbreak response. 
