A two-year-old male child has been diagnosed with the rare Monkey Pox Virus (Mpox) in Lofa County.
This latest development comes in the wake of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) recently confirming a second case of the virus in Lofa County.
The case, which was discovered in Lofa County, according to NPHIL, brings the number of confirmed Mpox cases in Liberia to two, after the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ACDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14, 2024.
The second confirmed case involves a two-year-old male patient who presented with fever, rash, and other symptoms characteristic of Monkeypox virus infection in humans.
According to a press release issued, four contacts have been traced and identified. The diagnosed patient is currently isolated and receiving home-based care.
NPHIL stated that the first confirmed case of Mpox was detected in Sinoe County following the ACDC and WHO declaration.
In light of the evolving epidemiological and biological dynamics, as well as established guidelines, Monkeypox transmission in Liberia is now considered an outbreak.
NPHIL has activated the National Incident Management System (IMS) to coordinate and manage the country’s outbreak preparedness and response in collaboration with international partners, the Ministry of Health, and local communities, among others.
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia also added that it is proactively ramping up public awareness and prevention measures regarding the disease.
In the release, it is indicated that in light of the announcement by the Incident Management System (IMS) of an outbreak situation, county health and surveillance officers from NPHIL and the Ministry of Health across the country have intensified their activities as sporadic suspected cases of Mpox have begun to emerge in the country.
The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) advises the general public to adhere to health and sanitation regulations to prevent person-to-person and community spread of the Monkeypox virus.
Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, and low energy. Most people fully recover, but some become very ill.
Monkeypox Virus is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia, and other viruses.
There are two distinct clades of the virus: clade I (with subclades Ia and Ib) and clade II (with subclades IIa and IIb).
A global outbreak of clade IIb began in 2022 and continues to this day, including in some African countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are also growing outbreaks of clades Ia and Ib affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in Africa.
As of August 2024, clade Ib has also been detected beyond Africa.
The natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, but various small mammals such as squirrels and monkeys are susceptible.
