Distinguished guests, Members of the Fourth Estate, Ladies & Gentlemen

I bring you greetings from the Ministry of Health (MOH), NPHIL, and all of our partners. Let me first begin by extending special thanks to His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, and the government of Liberia for supporting the Ministry of Health (MOH) and NPHIL in this Mpox response. We also want to give special thanks to all of our partner agencies for their technical and/or financial support from the start of Liberia’s Mpox epidemic (i.e, September

2024) up to current.

The purpose of this press conference is to provide an update on the status of the Mpox situation in Liberia to enable the public to better understand and support the efforts of the government in ending the outbreak. As of the most recent reporting period (November 3, 2025 – Sitrep#87), Liberia has recorded a total of 2,447 suspected cases of Mpox, reflecting ongoing transmission across the 15 counties, affecting 65 out of 98 health districts. Of these suspected cases, 2309 samples have been tested, and 1,308 cases have been laboratory confirmed, reflecting a cumulative positivity rate of 56.6%, which indicates significant ongoing community transmission. The Ministry of Health/PHIL, in collaboration with relevant partners, continues to implement enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and case management measures to control the spread of the infection.

Currently, there are 148 active Mpox cases under monitoring and clinical care in designated Infectious disease hospitals, treatment Isolation facilities, and Home-Based Care settings. Of these, Montserrado accounts for 57% affecting Bushrod, Commonwealth,

Central Monrovia, and Somalia Drive; Nimba 18% affecting Sanniquellie Mah, Bain Garr, and Zoe Geh; Margibi 7% affecting Firestone and Kakata districts; Grand Bassa 5% affecting Buchanan and district#4; Grand Kru 4% affecting Trehn, Barclayville and Jroah districts; the rest of the counties reporting 2% and below. Recovery efforts have been largely successful, with 1,154 patients reported to have recovered fully following treatment and clinical follow-up.

To date, the country has reported six (6) Mpox deaths, resulting in a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 0.5%. This relatively low CFR reflects ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health/PHIL and its partners to strengthen surveillance, case management, and public awareness interventions. Despite these efforts, the continued emergence of new suspected cases underscores the need for sustained vigilance, community engagement, and adequate resource mobilization to effectively control and prevent further spread of the disease within Liberia.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Ministry of Health, NPHIL, and partner agencies are collaborating in the response and have resolved to embark on the following efforts to curb transmission of Mpox virus within the next 60 – 90 days:

1. Intensify active case finding and place all confirmed cases into treatment. We will manage cases in a timely manner, both home-based and health facility-based care. We will augment services at the Liberia Center for Infectious Disease hospital through the provision of essential medical supplies, diagnostics, and equipment to the infectious disease hospital and other isolation centers: conduct core competencies refresher training on mpox complications for frontline clinicians, supported by simplified tools and job aids.

2. Robust Risk communication and community engagement. We will empower community leaders, market leaders, and youth networks to drive early reporting and safe behaviours. (hand washing in communities), Increased awareness of sexual transmission will be highlighted.

1. Launch preventive ring vaccination in Montserrado and other hotspots in a campaign mode, and other counties reporting high numbers of cases and observe transmission trend thereafter.

2. MOH/NPHIL will start awareness and sensitization of the Mpox vaccination campaign beginning this November 2025, and actual Mpox vaccination will commence in the first week of December 2025 up to February 2026; mainly targeting individuals 18 years and above across the country (Liberia)

3. Recently (i.e, September 2025), an additional 42,720 doses of Mpox vaccines were donated to the Government of Liberia (GOL) by a consortium comprising the US CDC, Africa CDC, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI, UNICEF, and Coalitions for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)

4. Daily Incident Management System (IMS) operational calls to timely address emerging issues, secure logistics, fuel, cold chain, and hotspot dashboards for precise resource deployment; weekly Infection Prevention Control (IPC) audits to maintain zero Health Care Workers (HCW) exposures and supportive supervision.

Goals (1 November 2025 to 31 January 2026)

* Detect and investigate ≥ 90% of suspected mpox cases within 24 48 hours nationwide, and ensure 100% of collected samples are tested with results available within 48 hours.

* Achieve zero preventable mpox deaths and reduce severe complications through improved Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity, timely diagnostics, refresher training for clinicians, and integrated HIV/nutrition/mental health care.

* Administer at least 42,720 doses of Mpox vaccines to high-risk populations in priority districts & counties by the end of January 2026, with rapid ring vaccination in hotspot communities.

* Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE):
Attain ≥ 80% awareness on safe practices early care seeking across the country, particularly in hotspot counties, including Montserrado, Nimba, Margibi, and Grand Bassa, amongst others, by January 2026 through targeted Risk Communication and Community Engagement interventions.

* Reduce national mpox cases, sustain, and ensure that the nationwide positivity rate is low within 90 days.

Conclusion

Ladies and gentlemen. In conclusion, Liberia stands at a critical turning point of sustained mpox urban transmission. Without bold actions, mpox transmission will continue to escalate, placing lives, health systems, and communities at risk.

We want to encourage and call on all our people, including community leaders, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders, to get fully involved in the Mpox awareness and vaccination campaign. Your support is crucial to the outcome of the Mpox outbreak. Thanks.

Dr. Catherine T. Cooper / Chief Medical Officer / Republic of

Liberia