The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) has denied the presence of any active or suspected cases of Ebola in the country.
Dr. Sia Watta Camanor, NPHIL Acting Director General and Interim Director, made the disclosure when she addressed Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Tuesday, June 2, in Monrovia.
Dr. Camanor assured the public that Liberia remains free of confirmed Ebola infections and has “no active contacts under monitoring.”
Despite the encouraging update, she warned against complacency, emphasizing that the absence of cases should not lead to a relaxation of preventive measures.
She said, the public health authorities remain on high alert, and were closely monitoring developments within the region to prevent any potential outbreak from entering the country.
Meanwhile, NPHIL has intensified surveillance activities nationwide, particularly at the sea, land and air entry points.
The process, is to ensure early detection and rapid response to any suspected case.
The enhanced surveillance measures include mandatory temperature screenings and health history assessments for travelers arriving from areas considered to be at high risk for Ebola transmission.
Health authorities believe these measures are critical to maintain preparedness, especially given the painful experience with the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, which claimed thousands of lives.
Dr. Camanor disclosed that NPHIL’s monitoring systems have been strengthened to ensure that any suspected case can be identified, isolated, and treated promptly before wider community transmission occurs.
She also acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Health, which recently donated a dedicated ambulance to Roberts International Airport to enhance emergency response capabilities at the main gateway.