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The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), and the John F. Kennedy Medical Center (JFKMC), has officially clarified that there are currently no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, following widespread misinformation circulating on social media that triggered fear and concern across neighboring Sierra Leone.
The clarification comes amid growing anxiety among Sierra Leoneans, many of whom feared that reports of an Ebola outbreak in Liberia could pose a serious threat to Sierra Leone because of the close movement of people between the two neighboring West African nations.
In a statement issued by Liberia’s health authorities, the institutions strongly dismissed the claims of an Ebola outbreak as false and misleading.
“Contrary to misinformation currently circulating on social media, Liberia currently has no suspected or confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD),” the statement said.
The Liberian health authorities urged members of the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified reports capable of causing unnecessary panic.
“We encourage the public to remain calm and refrain from spreading or giving credence to misleading information and unverified reports intended to create unnecessary panic and attract social media attention,” the statement added.
The Ministry of Health and NPHIL further reminded the public that they remain the official institutions responsible for reporting and communicating disease outbreaks in Liberia.
The statement also assured citizens and neighboring countries that Liberia continues to maintain strong surveillance and preparedness systems to prevent and respond to any possible health threats.
According to the authorities, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with NPHIL and international partners, is actively monitoring health facilities and border points while continuing public awareness campaigns and regional coordination efforts.
The institutions disclosed that Liberia is working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), Africa CDC, and other regional health authorities to strengthen preparedness measures.
Health officials further encouraged the public to continue observing preventive health measures, including regular handwashing, avoiding direct contact with bodily fluids of sick individuals, and promptly reporting suspected illnesses to health authorities.
The false Ebola claims reportedly spread rapidly on social media, causing concern among many Sierra Leoneans who still remember the devastating impact of the 2014 Ebola outbreak that claimed thousands of lives across West Africa, including Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Public health experts in Sierra Leone have meanwhile continued to encourage citizens to rely on verified information from official health institutions and avoid circulating unconfirmed reports capable of causing fear and confusion within communities.
The Liberian authorities reiterated that any official information regarding disease outbreaks in the country will only be communicated through the Ministry of Health and the National Public Health Institute of Liberia.
