MONROVIA – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has confirmed four active cases of Mpox in the country, prompting swift action from health authorities to contain the outbreak. The announcement came during a joint press conference held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at NPHIL headquarters in Congo Town, Monrovia, where representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the media.
Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director-General of NPHIL, disclosed that two of the confirmed Mpox cases are from Montserrado County, while Margibi and Sinoe Counties have reported one case each. Speaking alongside officials from the Ministry of Health, Africa CDC, and WHO, Dr. Nyan outlined the measures taken since the outbreak was initially flagged by WHO and the Africa CDC as a continental and global concern. He noted that after assuming leadership of NPHIL in August 2024, the institute promptly began responding to the threat.
Previously, on May 17, 2025, NPHIL officially declared a national Mpox outbreak, reporting a total of 78 laboratory-confirmed cases between January 1, 2024, and May 11, 2025. This announcement included 652 reported cases overall, with 572 suspected samples received by NPHIL labs for testing. According to the institute, 77 individuals have since recovered, while one patient remains under observation and one fatality has been recorded.
The county-by-county breakdown shows Nimba County with the highest number of confirmed cases at 26, followed by Lofa, Bong, and Rivercess Counties with seven cases each. Sinoe and Grand Bassa reported six cases each, along with Montserrado. Margibi recorded four cases, while Maryland and Grand Cape Mount have two and three confirmed cases respectively. One case each has also been confirmed in Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties.
Dr. Nyan commended the Division of Public Health Diagnostics, the Ministry of Health, and County Health Officers for their rapid coordination, particularly in managing a high-profile case that recently captured public attention. “We were on this particular ‘celebrity case’ for almost 36 hours, and thanks to our 717 protocol, we were able to resolve it in less than 72 hours,” he said.
Liberia has seen a fluctuating pattern in Mpox cases over the past year. From isolated reports in early 2024, the country saw cases rise to 63 by December before dropping to zero in March. As of May 11, a total of 652 suspected cases have been recorded since January 1, 2024. Dr. Nyan emphasized that 572 of these cases were tested at NPHIL laboratories, marking a 100% testing rate, a substantial improvement from earlier periods when the country faced shortages in diagnostic reagents.
He also stressed that NPHIL’s investigations and public statements are rooted in science. “We base our responses on facts and evidence. If we say something is this, we must be able to prove it,” Dr. Nyan stated. He further praised the Liberian media for its responsible reporting, noting that professionalism in journalism helped combat misinformation throughout the outbreak.
Also speaking at the press briefing, Dr. Yuah A. Nemah, Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at the Ministry of Health, announced that Liberia has received Mpox vaccines from the Africa CDC as part of the country’s effort to curb human-to-human transmission. According to Dr. Nemah, over 2,000 people in Grand Cape Mount, Nimba, Grand Bassa, and Sinoe Counties have been vaccinated to date. The vaccine is being administered under strict protocols, targeting two high-risk groups: individuals identified as contacts of confirmed cases and frontline health workers, including surveillance and case management teams, contact tracers, and members of the security sector.
Vaccination campaigns, along with community engagement and awareness efforts, are ongoing in Lofa, Montserrado, and Margibi Counties, where inoculations are expected to begin shortly. The Ministry of Health has activated its case management protocols to ensure coordinated medical care for those infected. In Montserrado, one patient has already been transferred to the National Infectious Disease Center for treatment.
Meanwhile, NPHIL is urging the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspected Mpox cases by calling the toll-free hotline 4455. While none of the most recent 572 specimens have yielded new confirmed cases so far, health authorities are closely monitoring the situation and reinforcing disease surveillance mechanisms across all affected counties.
Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness that spreads through close contact and is characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Though most cases are mild, the disease can be severe in vulnerable populations. In response, health officials are encouraging citizens to maintain good hygiene, avoid close contact with infected individuals, and follow all health advisories.
“The public should remain calm and cooperate with health teams,” said a Ministry of Health spokesperson. “All necessary systems are in place to manage this situation. Our teams are on the ground, responding effectively and ensuring that patients receive appropriate care.”
NPHIL reaffirmed its commitment to working transparently with partners and the public to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
