Published: November 15, 2024
MONROVIA — The Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, has announced that 19 of the 22 recorded cases of the Mpox virus in Liberia have recovered.
During a press conference held on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at NPHIL’s headquarters in Monrovia, Dr. Nyan disclosed that Liberia recorded 22 active Mpox cases, with 19 of these patients now recovered. He explained that all cases were tested, confirmed positive, and isolated, with some undergoing home-based care. To date, Liberia has recorded 41 cumulative cases since January.
According to Dr. Nyan, six cases were recorded before Mpox was officially announced in the country, with the remaining cases identified afterward. “What is very important to note is that we have a total of 19 recoveries and zero deaths,” he said.
Dr. Nyan noted that Mpox cases have appeared sporadically across various locations in the country. He emphasized that updates on the virus are regularly reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and regional partners as part of Liberia’s commitment to public health accountability and transparency.
To strengthen Liberia’s response, NPHIL recently sent samples to Nigeria and the United States for sequencing to determine the Mpox virus strains present in the country. Dr. Nyan shared that these tests identified Clade 2A in Liberia, while Liberian scientists also detected Clade 2B locally. “As we speak, Liberia has two clades circulating: Clade 2A and Clade 2B,” he confirmed.
Dr. Nyan extended thanks to WHO, USAID, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Africa CDC, and other international partners for their continued support in Liberia’s fight against the Mpox virus. He also expressed gratitude to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his commitment to NPHIL.
However, Dr. Nyan highlighted several challenges hindering NPHIL’s operations, including delays by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning in disbursing funds allocated to NPHIL in the national budget. He also cited inadequate diagnostic equipment as a major limitation.
“We need various diagnostic tools, including molecular diagnostics to analyze genes, and serological diagnostics to quickly determine positive or negative cases,” Dr. Nyan explained.
He called for increased support to NPHIL to enhance its response mechanisms and provide compensation to volunteer staff who have been instrumental in NPHIL’s operations. Dr. Nyan stressed that Mpox remains a concern at the continental, international, and national levels. “With sufficient support, we will be able to further strengthen our response and preparedness efforts,” he said.
Discussion about this post