By Domingo Dargbeh
With report that the Mpox cases are again on the increase, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has officially launched “Operation Find All Mpox Cases Campaign.”
NPHIL’s exercise was in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners to contain the widespread of the disease.
Authorities aimed to combat the recent surge in Mpox (formerly known as Monkeypox) cases in the country.
At the launch in Gardnersville Township on Monday, November, 3, 2025, Acting Chair of the Mpox National Incident Management System (IMS), Finda C. Smith, underscored the urgency of the situation.
Madam Smith noted that the country has recorded over 1,291 confirmed Mpox cases since the start of the outbreak, with a staggering positivity rate exceeding 50 percent among the suspected cases.
This alarming rise in the infections has prompted health officials to take decisive action.
INPHIL’s Interim Director, Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, said the Mpox virus has been identified in various counties, with a significant number of cases clustered in urban areas, particularly Montserrado County.
The campaign aims not only to identify, and treat existing cases, but to prevent further spread of the virus through enhanced public awareness, and community engagement.
In recognition of the critical role vaccinations play in controlling the outbreak, Liberia has received an allocation of 40,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine.
MoH Director of the Expanded Program on Immunization, Dr. Yuah Nemah, announced that over 9,000 doses from the initial allocation of 10,000 have already been administered.
The newly received vaccines will be deployed to protect high-risk populations, including close contacts of confirmed cases, healthcare workers, and frontline responders.
Meanwhile, medical practitioners warned residents, particularly students, to actively participate in spreading awareness about Mpox, and to encourage their peers to seek for vaccination.
“It is vital that we engage our communities and work together to keep everyone safe.”
The launch of this campaign comes at a time when Mpox has become an international public health concern, with health authorities urging vigilance and proactive measures to curb the outbreak.
The NPHIL and the MoH are committed to intensify their efforts over the next 60 days to ensure that all available resources are utilized to effectively combat the virus.
As Liberia navigates this challenging public health landscape, government has underscored the importance of collaboration between health workers, civil society actors, and local communities to mitigate the impact of the Mpox outbreak and safeguard the health of all.