By George C. Flomo
MONROVIA – Dr. Chris Nyan, Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), on Wednesday assured the nation public that Liberia remains in firm control of the ongoing Mpox outbreak, with zero deaths reported among 102 confirmed cases since January 1, 2024.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing (MICAT), Dr. Nyan presented a comprehensive update on the current status of Mpox, also known as monkey-pox, emphasizing that the virus, although serious, is also manageable with prompt treatment and preventive measures as is being tackled by his team.
“We have been dealing with sporadic Mpox cases since 2020–2021,” he stated. “But our most recent outbreak officially began in August 2024 after WHO and the Africa CDC declared it a public health emergency of international concern. Since then, our team has remained proactive in our response.”
Dr. Nyan explained that Mpox is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans and often spreads through direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces such as bed linens, towels, or utensils and so forth.
The current wave began with a seven-year-old girl in Small Town, a remote forest community in Sinoe County. He explained that her father, a local hunter, is believed to have brought the virus home unknowingly. The girl’s infection marked Liberia’s index case, followed shortly by her mother and additional cases reported in Lofa County.
“From that point, our cases began popping up,” Dr. Nyan recalled. “We responded with home-based treatment and isolation in mild cases, and moved severe cases to our renovated Star Base Isolation Center in Monrovia.”
As of May 22, 2025, Liberia has recorded a total of 102 laboratory-confirmed Mpox cases, with 77 full recoveries and 25 active cases currently under treatment. Dr. Nyan emphasized that no deaths have been reported so far, underscoring the success of Liberia’s rapid response system.
The NPHIL boss highlighted that those most at-risk include family members of infected persons, healthcare workers, and port staff. He described Mpox symptoms as including fever, headache, swelling of the nose and lips, rashes, and pus-filled skin lesions commonly referred to as “bump” in Liberia.
“These rashes, especially around the palms and genital area, are highly infectious. That’s why we stress early reporting and isolation,” he said, urging citizens to call the NPHIL hotline at 4455 if symptoms are detected.
Dr. Nyan also provided insights into regional collaboration with neighboring countries, especially Sierra Leone and Côte d’Ivoire, to share best practices and strengthen border surveillance.
“While Sierra Leone is dealing with over 1,904 active cases and 14 deaths, we have been fortunate,” he said. “Our own genetic sequencing shows we are dealing with Clade 2a and 2b, which we’re managing effectively. Sierra Leone, however, has a more aggressive outbreak of Clade 2a.”
He credited Liberia’s success to its trained local scientists, modern diagnostics, and partnerships with the Ministry of Health and West African Health Organization (WAHO).
Dr. Nyan acknowledged the recent public concern following reports that a popular Liberian comedian had tested positive for Mpox. He welcomed the celebrity’s openness, noting it has helped raise awareness but cautioned against panic.
“We’ve been careful about how we communicate to avoid creating anxiety,” he noted. “We report only confirmed cases and avoid sensationalism. The disease is real, but it is not a death sentence.”
In closing, Dr. Nyan reaffirmed NPHIL’s commitment to containing the outbreak and called on the public to remain calm but vigilant.
“This is a collective fight. Early reporting, avoiding stigmatization, and practicing good hygiene are key,” he said.
For now, Liberia stands as a model in Mpox response within the Mano River Union, proving that with effective leadership, community cooperation, and science-driven strategies, outbreaks can be controlled and lives saved.