WHO to work with Liberia on controlling monkeypox

The World Health Organization has promised to work with Liberian health authorities on managing and controlling the further spread of the monkeypox virus in the country, said Peter Clements, country representative of the WHO to Liberia.

It comes as the country confirmed its first case of the monkeypox, which originated in the southeastern county of Maryland, with health authorities disclosing that the patient is a 42-year-old who entered the country from neighboring Cote d'Ivoire on July 23.

Clements speaking to local media said: "The WHO is in full readiness to work with its Liberian counterparts on managing and controlling further spread of the monkeypox virus in Liberia".

Jane McCauley, director-general of the country's National Public Health Institute, providing an update on Wednesday, said the institute surveillance team are conducting case findings, including tracing contacts of people the patient came in close contact with.

The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported globally in 78 countries, with the majority of the cases in Europe.

According to the WHO, 98 percent of cases outside of Africa, where the virus is endemic, have been reported in men who have sex with men.

WHO declared on Saturday that monkeypox constitutes a global health emergency of international concern, a status that has only been applied before to polio and COVID-19 and that is meant to spur the international community to mount a coordinated response.