The Government of Liberia, through the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), has strongly refuted an international report alleging an outbreak of bird flu (Avian Flu H5N1) in the country, describing it as unverified and misleading.
The report, published by Reuters on April 18, 2025, cited information from the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), which claimed that an outbreak of H5N1 was detected in February on a poultry farm in Bong County. According to the article, 18 birds reportedly died out of a flock of 26,000.
In a press statement released over the weekend, NPHIL disclosed that it had conducted a thorough scientific investigation into the claims by testing 19 samples obtained from the Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) of the Ministry of Agriculture. The tests, conducted by Liberian scientists at the National Reference Laboratory, returned negative results for the H5N1 virus.
“Contrary to these reports, no poultry farm has officially reported deaths of chickens or ducks in Liberia to the NPHIL or to any government agency,” the statement read. The agency emphasized that bird flu is a reportable disease in the country and underscored its commitment to transparent and evidence-based disease surveillance.
NPHIL made the findings public during a scientific presentation at a joint Incident Management System (IMS) and National Epidemic Preparedness and Response Committee (NEPRC) meeting on Friday. The session was attended by representatives from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), Africa CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other stakeholders in the health sector.
As part of its ongoing vigilance, NPHIL reminded the public that the National Reference Laboratory, which is certified as a WHO National Influenza Center, routinely conducts surveillance and diagnostic testing for all types and subtypes of influenza viruses, including avian flu.
The health agency also took a firm stance against the dissemination of unscientific or premature reports on infectious disease outbreaks, warning that such actions could create unnecessary panic. “We strongly caution against unverified pronouncements of infectious situations in Liberia without scientific laboratory confirmation and validation,” the statement warned.
Meanwhile, NPHIL says it is taking proactive steps to strengthen surveillance systems and support the Central Veterinary Laboratory with additional diagnostic capacity using the One Health Platform, a collaborative approach linking human, animal, and environmental health systems.
The public is advised to remain calm but vigilant. NPHIL urges citizens to report any unusual animal deaths to the CVL or NPHIL for proper scientific investigation.
“We remain committed to safeguarding public health and ensuring global health security,” the agency concluded.
