MONROVIA, Liberia — Liberia’s health authorities have declared an urgent response to a fast‑moving Mpox outbreak now affecting all 15 counties, with a 60–90-day plan to scale up testing, care and public communication and a ring‑vaccination campaign to start in hard‑hit areas later this month.
“Without bold actions, Mpox transmission will continue to escalate, placing lives, health systems and communities at risk,” warned Chief Medical Officer Dr. Catherine T. Cooper. Situation Report #87 lists 2,447 suspected cases; of 2,309 samples tested, 1,308 were positive—a national positivity rate of 56.6%, signaling deep community transmission. Sixty‑five of 98 health districts are affected; Montserrado accounts for 57% of active cases, with Nimba at 18% and rising trends in Margibi, Grand Bassa and Grand Kru.
Despite the surge, officials reported 1,154 recoveries and a case‑fatality rate of 0.5%, which Dr. Cooper attributed to early detection, case management and public‑education efforts. Isolation centers in Monrovia and Ganta are under strain as teams work to expand clinical capacity.
The Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) are scaling up testing, clinician training and risk communication. The response plan targets rapid case investigation (90% within 48 hours), lab turnaround within two days, elimination of preventable Mpox deaths, and 80% awareness in high‑risk communities.
A preventive ring‑vaccination campaign will begin in Montserrado, then expand to other affected counties between December 2025 and February 2026. Authorities plan to administer 42,720 doses for adults 18 and older, with vaccines sourced through partners including the U.S. CDC, Africa CDC, Gavi, UNICEF and CEPI. “Your support is crucial to ending this outbreak,” Dr. Cooper said, urging local leaders, community groups and the public to promote prevention, seek care early and participate in vaccination. Health officials stressed that unity, vigilance and science‑based action are central to suppressing the outbreak and protecting vulnerable populations.
