By Socrates Smythe Sayon (Contributing Writer)
The Director-General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, spent the weekend overseeing Mpox diagnostic operations at the National Reference Laboratory as part of Liberia’s continued effort to curb the viral outbreak.
In a brief interview on Saturday evening, June 28, 2025, Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan, a molecular diagnostic expert, said, “Performing Mpox diagnostics throughout this weekend at the National Reference Laboratory of NPHIL along with our junior scientists was both impressive and rewarding.” He concluded with the hashtags: #StopMpox #NPHIL #OutbreakResponse #PublicHealthSafety.
Dr. Nyan’s statement came just a day after the latest Mpox update was released by NPHIL. On Friday, June 27, 2025, he reported that Liberia currently has 17 active Mpox cases, down from 18 earlier in the week.
The number of recoveries has risen to 158, and notably, the country has recorded no deaths linked to the outbreak. Health officials attribute the success to rapid national response efforts and strong public cooperation.
He emphasized that, “this result is in the absence of testing since June 8, 2025 due to the global shortage of testing kits; but, when we resume testing [backlog specimens], the number of active cases may probably increase should we detect any positive cases.”
“These results show that we’re making measurable progress, but this is not the time for complacency,” Dr. Nyan emphasized. “Our teams are working across the country to contain the outbreak, and we urge all Liberians to support these efforts by following health guidelines.”
The data marks an improvement from the June 24 report, which noted 18 active cases and 157 recoveries. While health authorities welcome the downward trend, they caution that community vigilance remains essential. Dr. Nyan advised the public to avoid physical contact, practice regular hand hygiene, and immediately report any suspected symptoms to health authorities or NPHIL.
NPHIL, under Dr. Nyan’s leadership, continues to manage the national Mpox response through the Incident Management System (IMS), deploying surveillance teams, conducting public awareness campaigns, and working with both local and international partners to prevent further transmission.
Expert epidemiologist, Dr. Ralph Jetoh, Director of the NPHIL’s Division of Infectious Disease and Epidemiology (DIDE), added that despite current challenges, the NPHIL is also strengthening cross-border surveillance and active case finding in the communities.
Appointed in August 2024, by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Dr. Nyan is a globally recognized infectious disease expert and recipient of the 2017 African Innovation Prize for Social Impact.
He is noted for developing affordable diagnostic tools and for his leadership during the Ebola crisis. His research has appeared in respected journals, and he has testified before the U.S. Congress on public health issues.
As Liberia works to stamp out Mpox, Dr. Nyan remains an active presence on the frontlines, pairing scientific expertise with real-time response to protect the nation’s health.
Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan (left) and NPHIL Lab Scientists conducting Mpox diagnostic tests at the National Reference Laboratory.
