Grand Bassa County Records First Mpox Case

BUCHANAN – Liberia’s west-central Grand Bassa County’s Health Officer, Dr. Jude Wesseh, has disclosed that the county has recorded its first Mpox case.

Monkey Pox or Mpox is a viral infection that primarily affects humans and animals – and the World Health Organization (WHO) has for the second time since 2022, declared Mpox a global health emergency, as the virus spreads rapidly across the African continent with the high probability of entering other continents.

Dr. Wesseh recently disclosed that the affected individual, a 20-year-old male, is currently being placed under isolation in Zondo, District #4. Further medical interventions are being introduced, and health authorities are raising public awareness about this case.

The 20-year-old male who came down with the virus began showing signs and symptoms of the deadly virus on 27 September 2024, according to Dr. Wesseh, who added that following a period of observation, his specimen were collected and sent to the reference lab, and test result therefrom, which was released on 10 September, confirmed him positive.

Three contacts regarding the infected person have been traced so far, with efforts being underway to prevent the spread of the virus in Grand Bassa County, Dr. Wesseh stated.

The Grand Bassa CHO cautioned members of the public to get actively involved with washing of hands, avoid coming in contact with those suspected of being infected, and staying away from animals that appear to be sick.

Meanwhile, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), in a press conference over the weekend, alluded to the Grand Bassa case and two other cases in Bong County.

Prior to the latest confirmed case in Grand Bassa County, NPHIL on 16 August confirmed five cases of Mpox in three counties since the beginning of this year.

In a later update on 17 September, it was revealed that nine cases of Mpox have been reported in Liberia, putting the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 14, excluding the three new cases alluded to by the NPHIL in its weekend press conference.

The virus disease was originally named “Monkeypox” when first identified in monkeys in 1958, with the first reported human case being in 1970, when a nine-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of Congo was confirmed positive.

In 2022, the WHO recommended updating the disease name to “Mpox” to reduce stigma association with monkeys, as the disease can also infect rodents and humans.

The Mpox virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected animal or person. Animal-to-human transmission typically occurs through bites, scratches, or direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or wounds of an infected animal.

Edited by Olando Testimony Zeongar.