NPHIL Detects Monkeypox Clade IIb, Report Zero Fatalities In National Mpox Response

By Catherine K. Conteh

MONROVIA, Nov. 5 (LINA) – The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has announced a breakthrough in its fight against the Monkeypox virus, identifying Clade IIb of the virus within the country through advanced genomic sequencing.

According to an NPHIL release dated Monday, November 4, 2024, Liberia's proactive approach has resulted in zero fatalities and a zero percent case fatality rate (CFR), a promising sign amidst the global Mpox outbreak declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control (Africa CDC) in August this year.

Liberia’s Mpox Incident Management System (IMS), the release stated that as of Epidemiological Week 43, the country has successfully managed 14 recoveries, with only eight active cases remaining.

The update, presented by NPHIL at the weekly Africa-CDC Director-Generals' meeting, underscores Liberia's effective containment strategy.

The release indicated that NPHIL has now established full biomolecular sequencing at its National Reference Laboratory which is a significant development in the country’s public health capabilities.

This advancement, the release noted, enables Liberian scientists to identify pathogens, including viruses and bacteria, within the country’s borders, eliminating the need to send specimens abroad.

"This capability empowers us to quickly identify pathogen types and monitor genetic mutations in-country," the release stated.

At the same time, the release quoted NPHIL Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan as emphasizing the importance of genomic sequencing, a specialized technique that reveals the Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA), Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) or protein structures of organisms, allowing scientists to detect mutations and trace pathogen origins.

Previously, he said, specimens from Liberia had to be analyzed in facilities such as the National Institute of Health in the United States or the Nigeria CDC in Nigeria, adding that this process revealed the presence of Monkeypox Clade IIa, with recent findings now identifying Clade IIb circulating in Liberia.

He noted that the discovery of Clade IIb provides essential data to refine Liberia's public health response, from vaccine strategy to diagnostics, and to enhance virus tracing and transmission studies.

He credited Liberia’s National Reference Lab’s sequencing capability to collaborative support from WHO-Liberia, the Noguchi Medical Institute of Ghana, Africa CDC, US-CDC, USAID, and other partners.

In addition to monitoring Monkeypox, the NPHIL and IMS are addressing concurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever, measles, and rubella.

The institute urges the public to observe hygiene protocols, avoid close physical contact, and practice safe sexual behavior to minimize transmission risks.