Monrovia, Liberia, 30th September 2022: The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) is concerned about rumors of a suspected case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Liberia and is informing the general public that this information is false and misleading. Currently, NO SUSPECTED CASE OF EBOLA HAS BEEN REPORTED IN LIBERIA.
It can be recalled that on 20th September 2022, the Uganda Health Authorities declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease following laboratory confirmation of a patient from a village in Madudu sub-county, Mubende district, central Uganda. As of 28th September, 50 suspected cases have been reported in Uganda including 31 confirmed and 19 probable cases. In the last 24 hours, no new confirmed cases have been reported. Six deaths (CFR: 19.4%) have been reported among confirmed cases. Cumulatively, 414 contacts have been reported.
Ebola Virus Disease is a zoonotic disease transmitted from animals to humans through contact with infected body fluids. Human to human transmission is by blood or contact with body fluid of a person who is sick or has died from Ebola. Symptoms include, fever, headache, muscle pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and bleeding (both internal and external).
As of the date of this press release, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the risk of spread of the Ebola outbreak in Uganda at the regional and global levels to be low.
Despite the risk of regional spread of the current outbreak of Ebola in Uganda being low, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia has informed National, County, and District Surveillance officers, including those at Points of Entry (POEs) to heightened surveillance (especially at border crossing points) and increase their index of suspicions in order to promptly detect any potential case of Ebola. NPHIL is also conducting a comprehensive readiness assessment of the country’s Emergency Preparedness and Response System, which includes capacities in case management, surveillance and contact tracing, laboratory testing services, infection prevention and control measures in health care and community settings, safe and dignified burials and community engagement and social mobilization. The outcome of this assessment will inform further actions.
As the health authorities continue to exert efforts to keep the population of Liberia safe, the public is hereby advised of the following:
- Avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus including animals that are sick or that have been found dead
- Report all cases of individuals presenting with fever, headache, muscle pains, rash and vomiting
- Immediately isolate anyone showing the above signs and symptoms
Once again, the general public is hereby informed that currently, NO SUSPECTED CASE OF EBOLA HAS BEEN REPORTED IN LIBERIA.
Signed: __________________________
Hon. Jane A. MaCauley
Director General
