Scientists at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) have discovered and characterized a new strain of the Monkeypox virus, identified as Mpox Clade IIa, marking a major milestone in the country’s public health research.
The discovery was led by Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, Director General of NPHIL and a renowned biomedical scientist.
This is the first time Liberia has genetically characterized a Monkeypox strain, 55 years after the virus was first detected in the country in 1970.
The findings were independently verified by Nigerian and U.S. scientists and published in the peer-reviewed journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The Clade IIa strain was identified through genomic sequencing at the NPHIL’s National Reference Laboratory in Charlesville, Margibi County. Samples were collected from confirmed Mpox cases in Sinoe, Lofa, and other counties in August and September 2024.
Additional analysis included samples from previous years, including 2023, helping confirm the presence and classification of the Clade IIa strain.
Dr. Nyan explained that with the acquisition of advanced sequencing technology, NPHIL can now decode the genetic makeup of pathogens circulating in Liberia for the first time in its history.
Bode Shobayo, former head of Research and Innovation at NPHIL, noted that while the institute could previously detect outbreaks, it lacked the tools to identify specific viral genomes such as those of Ebola or COVID-19.
Mpox, a zoonotic virus transmitted through direct human contact, causes fever, body aches, and fluid-filled rashes. In West Africa, Clade IIb is more common, while Clades Ia and Ib circulate in Central Africa.
The Africa CDC and WHO declared a public health emergency on August 13 and 14, 2024, respectively, due to the increasing spread of the Monkeypox virus across the continent.
Despite this, Liberia has reported encouraging trends. As of August 22, 2025, there were 112 active Mpox cases and zero deaths, according to NPHIL’s weekly situation report.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, who recently toured the NPHIL National Reference Lab, praised Liberian scientists, stating their efforts are crucial not just for Liberia but for global health.
The discovery is part of Liberia’s broader genomic research push, supported by the Africa CDC and WHO-Afro, under initiatives linking outbreak response with biomedical innovation.
NPHIL has prioritized local diagnostics, vaccine research, and building African-led platforms for public health threats.
Dr. Nyan emphasized that this achievement highlights the value of African research partnerships and the importance of giving due credit to African scientists on major scientific publications.
This breakthrough positions Liberia as a growing force in genomic science, decades after the initial appearance of Monkeypox in the country.
