‘Fake’ news nurse: “…The reason for this alert is that there are people who went to Uganda for a conference, and they are back in Liberia. These people passed through the airport, but the airport authorities did not notice that they came from Uganda until they passed. About five of them were sick and brought to JFK…”
Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, Acting Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), on Monday, May 25, denied any confirmed or suspected Ebola cases and no active outbreak. Camanor meanwhile, strongly warned that the country remains at high risk due to regional movement and porous borders. She said, national preparedness remains a top priority, assuring that public health surveillance system is “strong with improved emergency response mechanisms and a prepared health workforce.” On other health fronts, NPHIL reports that over 1,600 mpox cases have been confirmed since 2024, with only five active cases remaining. Also, there are currently no active Lassa fever cases in the country. However, COVID-19 continues to circulate, with over 20,000 cumulative cases recorded since 2021, and 185 active cases now reported in 11 of the 15 counties. In a related development, Nurse Paola N. Bedell speaks out on how and why she spread “fake” Ebola news: “About five of them were sick and brought to JFK” “Yesterday, we had a training/meeting, and in the meeting, the nursing directress Mrs. Joekai and one of the managers came and did the training. It was an in-service training. After the training, they brought some PPEs. They were like putting us on the alert that we need to be very careful whilst we are giving care. They told us that even when we are dealing with any patient, we should have long sleeves on, and if we are not okay with any patient, we should get our PPEs on. The reason for this alert is that there are people who went to Uganda for a conference, and they are back in Liberia. And these people passed through the airport, but the airport authorities did not notice that they came from Uganda until they passed. About five of them were sick and brought to JFK. They were showing all the signs and symptoms of Ebola. Mrs. Joekai was saying this to the body. She was just saying it as a precaution for us to be very careful. So, when I went home, I called my children. I also work for Hope for Women Clinic. I recorded a message and shared in our chat room to alert them. I never did it in any political fate. I did it to alert them and for people to take precaution. As I said, it was the nursing director who cautioned us to be more careful as nurses.”