Liberia’s National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has confirmed three new cases of Mpox in Liberia.
This brings the number of positive confirmed cases in Liberia to five since the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern about three weeks ago, in mid-August 2024.
The three new confirmed cases are from Lofa, Sinoe, and River Gee Counties, respectively. This follows the timely launch of the National Incident Management System (IMS) at the Headquarters of the NPHIL last week, which has since begun mobilizing resources and coordinating the national response.
The current epidemiological trend of Monkeypox in Liberia, its pending biomolecular characterization, and existing guidelines indicate that this Monkeypox dynamic qualifies as an outbreak. Therefore, the NPHIL is collaborating with the MOH and International Partners to proactively mount the response aimed at preventing the spread of the Monkeypox virus in the population.
Last weekend, an NPHIL Team visited border-entry points and assessed isolation centers in Nimba and Bong Counties to heighten preparations, increase contact tracing, and enhance diagnostic procedures, as the IMS responds to the sporadic cases of Monkeypox that are appearing in two opposite geographic locations of the country.
As the NPHIL has activated the National Incident Management System (IMS) and is coordinating and managing the country’s outbreak preparedness and response, we urge the population to remain calm, wash/sanitize your hands, avoid contact with suspected persons and animals, and also strongly advise practicing safe and protected sexual behavior.
The communities are also advised to report suspected cases of Monkeypox to the nearest health facilities and authorities.
