Another Ebola Outbreak, Health Institute Warns

By: Joseph K. Sallie

MONROVIA- Liberia faces a high risk of another Ebola outbreak due to weaknesses in the country’s border surveillance system, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia [NPHIL] has warned.

Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Capitol Hill, NPHIL’s Interim Director General, Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, said Liberia currently has no confirmed or suspected Ebola cases anywhere in the country.

However, she cautioned that the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo puts Liberia at increased risk. “Although the country stands at risk due to the situation in DR Congo, our institution is fully prepared to prevent the deadly virus from entering Liberia,” Dr. Camanor stated.

She assured the public that NPHIL is activating all preventive measures established during the 2014 Ebola epidemic, which claimed thousands of lives in Liberia. These include strengthened surveillance at borders, rapid response protocols, and public health coordination.

Dr. Camanor also urged Liberians to refrain from spreading false information claiming that the virus has already entered the country. “I urge the public to stop spreading falsehoods. We will communicate immediately if there is any confirmed case,” she said.

NPHIL said it will rely on the systems set up after the 2014 outbreak to detect, contain, and prevent any reintroduction of the virus.

The Ministry of Health and NPHIL continue to monitor the regional situation and advise citizens to report any unusual illness and follow hygiene protocols.