Liberia Reports 12 New Cases of Mpox as NPHIL Gains In-Country Sequencing Capacity - FrontPageAfrica
by Edwin Genoway, Jr. · FrontPageAfricaShare
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Monrovia – Liberia’s National Public Health Institute (NPHIL) at a news conference confirmed 12 new cases of Mpox, bringing the total number of active cases in the country to 22.
By Edwin G. Genoway, edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com
Dr. Dugbeh Chris Nyan, Director General of NPHIL, made the announcement during a news conference on Thursday, highlighting the country’s ongoing efforts in disease control and management.
Mpox, an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV), typically manifests with symptoms such as a painful rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. While most individuals recover fully, some can experience more severe symptoms.
As of today, NPHIL reported a cumulative total of 41 Mpox cases, with 19 recoveries and no fatalities. Dr. Nyan emphasized that all active cases are currently receiving care, with some isolated to prevent further spread.
“We currently have 22 active cases under medical supervision, and thankfully, we’ve had no deaths related to Mpox. Our recovery rate remains strong,” said Dr. Nyan.
In a significant development, Dr. Nyan also announced that Liberia has now established its own sequencing capabilities, thanks to partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Africa CDC. Previously, Liberia had to send samples abroad for analysis, but now, with in-country sequencing, the nation can better track the virus’s genetic variations.
“Previously, we sent samples to Nigeria for sequencing, which confirmed that Liberia was dealing with Clade 2(a) of the virus. Today, we are proud to announce that we can now sequence samples locally. In fact, our testing has identified the presence of Clade 2(b) here in Liberia, meaning that both Clades 2(a) and 2(b) of the virus are currently circulating in the country,” Dr. Nyan said.
This development marks an important step in strengthening Liberia’s public health infrastructure and response capabilities. Dr. Nyan also mentioned that NPHIL is actively responding to other health threats, including outbreaks of Lassa fever and yellow fever.
“This is a key moment in revitalizing Liberia’s public health system. NPHIL is robustly engaged in preparedness and response activities across multiple disease outbreaks,” he said.
Liberians are encouraged to remain vigilant and follow public health guidelines to prevent the spread of Mpox and other diseases. NPHIL continues to monitor the situation closely, with ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and health of the population.