The Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has emphasized the urgent need for early preventive measures to combat the recent Monkeypox outbreak affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Earlier this month, reports emerged of an outbreak of the Monkeypox virus across several nations in the region, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations. In Liberia, five suspected cases of the virus have been reported across three counties. During a special press briefing after the induction ceremony of the Director General and Deputy Director General for Administration, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, the DG of NPHIL, confirmed that treatment options for Monkeypox are available and can be employed for those affected by the disease. Dr. Nyan highlighted that symptoms typically manifest between 2 to 14 days after exposure. He explained that transmission primarily occurs through person-to-person contact and maternal transfer, stressing the importance of vigilant public health practices given the country’s social dynamics. He noted that Monkeypox has been present in Liberia since May of this year, with no reported fatalities among suspected cases thus far. The NPHIL leader stated that the institution has been enhancing its capacity to respond to health crises since the Ebola outbreak and is currently focused on distinguishing Monkeypox from other diseases through collaboration with various partners. NPHIL is actively working alongside the Ministry of Health to implement a pandemic response system at both county and community levels. Dr. Nyan underscored the critical need to monitor Liberia major entry points, particularly with rising cases in neighboring countries such as Ivory Coast where recent cases have been reported by the WHO as well as Nigeria, the Central African Republic, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and the DRC, all of which continue to face significant challenges from the disease. Furthermore, Dr. Nyan addressed the rise of Coronavirus cases in the United States of America, particularly in California and the eastern states, during this winter season. He stressed that the institute is closely monitoring the situation to prepare safety guidelines for travelers entering Liberia, urging adherence to health regulations upon arrival. Courtesy of VoL
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