By Socrates Smythe Saywon (Guest Contributor)
MONROVIA – As Liberia continues to respond and monitor the Mpox situation within its borders, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), has taken to social and traditional media to issue a strong warning and call for strengthening preventive measures although cases of Mpox were on the decline in Liberia.
“Thus far, the NPHIL’s handling of the current Mpox outbreak response by Dr. Nyan and his Team, has proven effective as with the simultaneous response to Measles and Lassa outbreaks in Liberia,” commended an Africa-CDC public health expert during the weekly Continental IMST meeting.
On ELBC Radio Morning Show, Dr. Nyan, Chairman of the Mpox Incident Management System (IMS), told Varflay Kamara that Liberians should not relax, but continue to practice hygienic public health measures so as to break the transmission chain and prevent the spread of Mpox. Then on social media platforms, the NPHIL Director General urged the population to remain vigilant amid encouraging news of declining cases of Mpox in country.
In a social media post, Dr. Nyan, Chairman of the Mpox IMS, updated the public on the current status of the outbreak, reporting that the number of active Mpox cases has dropped to 25 (from 71 Active Mpox Cases on June 2, 2025), with 150 individuals now recovered. Most notably, he confirmed that there have been no deaths recorded in Liberia.
Emphasizing the importance of continued vigilance, he urged citizens and residents of Liberia to wash and sanitize their hands regularly, avoid contact with individuals suspected of infection, and immediately report any suspected cases to NPHIL and the nearest health facility.
“STOP MPOX!” Dr. Nyan’s post concluded, reinforcing his call for collective national responsibility. His post was met with a wave of support and admiration from citizens online.
Leo Cummings commented, “Honorable director, u strong, chief. Keep flying high…”
Another viewer, Monkaryeh Wondan, wrote, “I love your courage. You’re truly a veteran of SUP” and wants to meet Dr. Nyan in person.
Abraham D. Jackson humorously added, “Keywords, ‘Stop MPOX!’ Dougbeh Chris Nyan and problem that 5&6 hahhahahha.”
The public health message follows the conclusion of a major regional workshop of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), hosted by NPPHIL in Monrovia. Held from June 18–20 at the Cape Hotel, the workshop focused on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in response to Mpox outbreaks across West Africa. The event brought together public health professionals from all 15 ECOWAS member states and featured the participation of Dr. Alinon Kokou, Regional Director of the Africa CDC Western Region.
Workshop participants emphasized the critical role of accurate, timely, and simple communication in improving disease surveillance, coordinating responses, and building public trust during health emergencies. The meeting also served as a platform to evaluate existing RCCE frameworks and share best practices for strengthening preparedness and response capabilities utilizing the One-Health approach.
Dr. Nyan, a distinguished medical doctor and infectious disease expert, is widely known for his impactful contributions to global health and scientific innovation. He is the inventor of the “Isothermal Multiplex Diagnostic Test (the NYAN-TEST)” that detects and simultaneously identifies multiple infections in less than 60 minutes.
“Although the active Mpox cases are decreasing in Liberia, we should let our guard down; we must continue to increase our active case search, diagnostics and sequencing as well as improving on case management of infected patients,” Dr. Nyan emphasized.
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