MONTSERRADO COUNTY, LIBERIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and international partners, on Monday, November 3, 2025, officially launched a nationwide Mpox Operation Campaign under the theme “Operation Find All Mpox Cases.” The ceremony, held at the Gardnersville Town Hall in Montserrado County, brought together government officials, health experts, students, civil society groups, and development partners in what authorities described as a decisive step toward containing the country’s escalating outbreak.
Providing an overview of the situation, Madam Finda C. Smith, Acting Chair of the Mpox National IMS, disclosed that Liberia continues to experience a sharp rise in Mpox cases since the regional surge in 2024. She revealed that the country recorded 1,000 confirmed cases between January and October 2024 alone, a significant jump from pre-2024 figures that “were less than the hundreds.” As of October 30, 2025, Liberia has documented 2,287 suspected cases, of which 1,291 were confirmed positive, representing more than a 50 percent positivity rate. Six deaths have occurred so far, giving the outbreak a case fatality rate of 0.5 percent.
Madam Smith noted that Montserrado County remains the hardest hit, accounting for more than 60 percent of the national caseload. “This is why the management thought it wise to launch the operation here first, Montserrado is the epicenter,” she said, stressing that most recorded infections are among young people, particularly students.
She emphasized the need for stronger surveillance, expanded community awareness, and continuous diagnostic and case management support. “We must enhance our engagement with communities to ensure the population remains safe. This launch is about empowering each stakeholder to act,” she added.
Dr. Yuah Nemah, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Ministry of Health, presented an update on Liberia’s vaccination program. She disclosed that the country initially received 10,800 doses of the Mpox vaccine, of which more than 9,000 have already been administered across all 15 counties. In response to the continued rise in cases, global health partners have now supplied Liberia with an additional 40,000 doses.
According to Dr. Nemah, vaccination efforts will intensify over the next 60 days, targeting contacts of confirmed Mpox cases, healthcare workers, frontline responders, and other at-risk groups. “Vaccination remains one of our strongest tools in preventing Mpox,” she said. “Our goal is to use all 40,000 doses and help bring this outbreak to an end.”
Speaking on behalf of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Interim Director-General Dr. Sia Wata Camanor described the launch as a “historic day” for the country’s public health response. She noted that Montserrado alone has recorded close to 900 cases out of the national total and five of the six confirmed deaths. Dr. Camanor praised frontline workers, district health teams, laboratory technicians, and home-based care providers for their tireless efforts in managing cases.
“We are here because we must prevent, detect, respond, and ultimately control Mpox,” she said. “We want our children to attend school safely, we want our people to work freely, and we want our international partners to visit Liberia without fear. Together, we must find all cases.”
Formally launching the campaign on behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Joel T. Kollie, Montserrado County Health Officer, called the initiative “a national call to action.” He thanked international partners, including WHO, UNICEF, Africa CDC, AFINET, and others, for their continued support and urged residents of Montserrado to fully cooperate with health workers as they intensify case-finding.
“Montserrado accounts for more than 65 percent of all cases. Launching this operation here is not just symbolic, it is strategic,” Dr. Kollie said. “We officially declare this campaign open, and we ask every resident to take the theme ‘Operation Find All Mpox Cases’ seriously.”
As the campaign begins, authorities say the focus will be on aggressive surveillance, community engagement, vaccination, and rapid case identification, measures they believe are critical to stopping the spread of Mpox and safeguarding public health nationwide.
