2002 - Cholera in Liberia

Supply-chain Risk Briefing: Cholera Outbreak in Liberia

1. Summary

A cholera outbreak in Liberia has been reported by WHO and is currently classified as low grade. This disease outbreak reported in June 2021 reflects the public health situation in the West Africa region.

2. Supply-chain impact

• Agricultural sector: As Liberia is a major rubber producer, if the disease outbreak affects agricultural labor, there is potential for disruption in rubber and palm oil production
• Mineral resources: Labor shortages or transportation delays may occur in mining operations for iron ore, diamonds, and other minerals
• Logistics infrastructure: Enhanced quarantine measures or operational delays are expected in import/export cargo handling through Monrovia port
• Regional spread: Border control reinforcement with neighboring countries Sierra Leone and Guinea may impact regional logistics flows

3. Watch points

• WHO follow-up reports and announcements by Liberian health authorities on outbreak scale and containment status
• Confirmation of border control measures by neighboring countries and restrictions on regional logistics transportation
• Monitoring normalization status of production facilities and port operations for major exports including rubber and iron ore