The government, through the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), has denounced a Reuters News Agency report that there is an outbreak of bird flu (Avian Flu H5N1) in the country. The agency reportedly quoted the World Health Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).
According to the report, the outbreak was detected in February on a farm in Bong County, killing 18 birds out of a flock of 26,000. The report was based on information provided by the Paris-based WOAH.
In an effort to alleviate panic of the outbreak among the populace, NPHIL said it conducted a thorough scientific investigation by local Liberian scientists at the National Reference Laboratory on 19 samples obtained from the Central Veterinary Lab (CVL) of the Ministry of Agriculture. “Test results were Negative for H5N1 in these CVL sentinel samples.”
NPHIL, in its press release, said that during the joint Incident Management System (IMS)-NEPRC meeting on Friday, NPHIL made this disclosure in a scientific presentation of investigation results attended by the Liberia country representative of the US-CDC, Africa-CDC, WHO, and other institutions.
“Recently, there were reports by the Reuters news agency on 18th April 2025 concerning “Avian Flu” in Liberia, quoting sources from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Contrary to these reports, no poultry farm has officially reported deaths of chickens or ducks in Liberia to the NPHIL nor by any agency of government. NPHIL, therefore, urges agencies concerned to carry out intensive animal surveillance for further investigation.”
According to NPHIL, the National Reference Laboratory at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia, a WHO Certified National Influenza Center, routinely and regularly conducts surveillance and tests for Influenza viruses of all types and subtypes.
“Aware that Influenza virus infection is a reportable disease, the NPHIL-NRL prominently considers this pathogen high on our surveillance and diagnostic radar and actively utilizes the One-Health Platform of Liberia.” The NPHIL strongly cautions against unscientific and premature pronouncements of infectious situations in the country without the requisite scientific laboratory confirmation and validation. Meanwhile, the NPHIL has put in place logistical and other measures to assist the CVL in several scientific procedures and diagnostics, utilizing the One-Health Platform and strengthening ongoing collaborations.”
NPHIL urged the public not to panic about the report, however, it urges the public to report any animal deaths to the CVL and the NPHIL for proper scientific investigation and accurate information. “We will probe for other factors that could be responsible for animal deaths while working to protect public health for global health security.”
