By Edwin N Khakie
MONROVIA, Liberia, May 27, 2026— The John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center (JFK) has suspended a registered nurse assigned at the E. S. Grant Psychiatric Hospital following the circulation of an audio message alleging the presence of suspected Ebola patients in Liberia.
In a suspension letter dated May 25, 2026, and signed by JFK Chief Executive Officer Dr. Linda A. Birch, the hospital informed Ms. Paola N. Bedell that she was relieved of her duties with immediate effect pending an investigation into the matter.
According to the communication, Bedell allegedly shared a voice message in a WhatsApp chat group claiming that several patients showing symptoms linked to Ebola virus disease had returned to Liberia from a church conference in Uganda.
The message further accused the John F. Kennedy Medical Center and the Ministry of Health of attempting to conceal the situation from the public.
JFK management said the audio recording was later circulated widely on both local and international social media platforms, creating public fear and drawing the attention of national security authorities.
The hospital clarified that the suspension does not amount to a finding of guilt, but said the action was necessary to allow a full and impartial investigation into the allegations and the circumstances surrounding the audio recording.
The institution further directed the suspended nurse to refrain from performing any official responsibilities or representing JFK and the E. S. Grant Psychiatric Hospital in any capacity while the investigation remains ongoing.
The development comes at a time when health authorities are intensifying surveillance and public awareness efforts amid renewed Ebola concerns in parts of Africa. Liberian health officials, however, continue to maintain that the country has not recorded any confirmed Ebola case.
