No Confirmation of ‘Bird Flu’ in Liberia -NPHIL Assures Understandably Panicking Citizens

MONROVIA – The horrors of Ebola and Covid-19 still fresh in the minds and psyche of Liberians, rumors of Bird Flu have been increasing their tempo, then comes the good news from National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) saying it is not true.

In a press release, the NPHIL clarified that there is no Bird Flu (Avian Flu H5N1) detected in Liberia based on thorough scientific investigation conducted by Liberian scientists at the National Reference Laboratory on 19 samples obtained from the Central Veterinary Lab (CVL) of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Test results were Negative for H5N1 in these CVL sentinel samples, it says.

During the joint Incidence Management System (IMS)-NEPRC meeting on Friday, the organization made known scientific presentation of investigation results attended by the Liberia country representative of the US-CDC, Africa-CDC, WHO, and other institutions.

Recently, there were reports by the Reuters news agency on 18th April 2025 concerning “Avian Flu” in Liberia, quoting sources from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

Contrary to these reports, no poultry farm has officially reported deaths of chickens or ducks in Liberia to the NPHIL nor by any agency of government.

NPHIL, therefore, urges agencies concerned to carry out intensive animal surveillance for further investigation.

The National Reference Laboratory at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, a WHO Certified National Influenza Center, routinely and regularly surveillances and tests for Influenza viruses of all types and subtypes.

Aware that Influenza virus infection is a reportable disease, the NPHIL-NRL prominently considers this pathogen high on our surveillance and diagnostic radar and actively utilizing the One-Health Platform of Liberia.

The NPHIL strongly cautions against unscientific and premature pronouncements of infectious situation in the country without the requisite scientific laboratory confirmation and validation.

Meanwhile, the NPHIL has put in place logistical and other measures to assist the CVL in a number of scientific procedures and diagnostics, utilizing the One-Health Platform and strengthen ongoing collaborations.

Finally, the NPHIL admonishes the world and Liberian public not to panic, but report any animal deaths to the CVL and the NHPIL for proper scientific investigation and accurate information. We will probe for other factors that could be responsible for animal deaths, while working to protect public health for global health security.