By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
Congo Town, Liberia – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has confirmed the detection of the Monkeypox virus Clade-IIa in the country through molecular genetic sequencing. Additionally, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) has identified three new cases of Mpox.
This new finding raises the total confirmed cases to eleven since the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental and International Concern in mid-August. Liberia has recorded seventeen cases since January 1st, with twelve recoveries, no fatalities, and five active cases currently under observation.
The confirmation of the Monkeypox virus Clade-IIa was made possible by genomic sequencing of samples sent to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). These efforts were supported by NIH-PREVAIL-Liberia and the WHO-Liberia Country Office.
“Understanding the circulating Monkeypox Clade-IIa in Liberia is vital for vaccine deployment, diagnostics, and monitoring the virus’s transmission patterns, whether from animals to humans or between individuals,” stated Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director General of NPHIL.
He noted that NPHIL is also addressing ongoing outbreaks of Lassa fever, measles, and rubella. The National Incident Management System (IMS) is coordinating the national response to these health issues alongside the Mpox outbreak.
NPHIL has urged the public to remain alert by practicing regular hand hygiene, avoiding contact with suspected cases and animals, engaging in safe sexual practices, and promptly reporting any suspected Mpox cases to health authorities.
