Lawmakers have alarmed over the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) summoning the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health to appear before that august body on Tuesday.
In a separate communication from District #16 Representative Dixon Seboe and District #8 Representative Prince Tole, to Plenary of the House of Representatives dated May 21, 2026, the two lawmakers called on Plenary of the House to formally request the appearance of the heads of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Minister of Health before full Plenary of the House of Representatives.
The invitation is intended to allow the two health institutions discuss Liberia’s preparedness and response strategies regarding the recent outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the communication, the lawmakers said the country is aware of the ongoing situation posing a significant risk of further spread, given Liberia’s proximity to the affected regions, alongside the historical experiences with Ebola outbreaks, particularly the devastating crisis between 2014 and 2016 that resulted in significant loss of life. WHO’s warnings concerning the Bundibugyo virus and its potential escalation necessitate an understanding of how prepared the country is to respond effectively.
The communication emphasizes that, in light of the reported cases and the risk factors identified by the WHO, including high population mobility and the urban nature of the affected areas, it is critical that the country ascertain the measures the NPHIL and the Ministry of Health have put in place to prevent the resurgence of Ebola in the community and the country at large.
The communication noted that understanding the current status of the public health infrastructure, surveillance systems, and community awareness campaigns is vital to ensuring the safety and health of our citizens are paramount.
The World Health Organization has declared the DRC Ebola outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, raising serious alarms across the West African subregion. The representatives cited Liberia’s proximity to the affected regions and the country’s devastating Ebola experience between 2014 and 2016 as critical reasons for urgent legislative attention
