Health authorities in Liberia have placed more than 20 people under quarantine in Ganta, Nimba County, following the sudden death of a Turkish national that initially raised fears of an Ebola case.
The deceased, identified as Mr. Cumhur Süner, was a crew member who reportedly died suddenly at sea near Maryland County earlier this month. His body was being transported to Monrovia when health authorities in Ganta intercepted the vehicle carrying the remains and flagged the incident as a potential Ebola case.
Emergency protocols were immediately triggered. Workers of the Gompa Funeral Home, passengers in the taxi that transported the body, and the funeral home’s owner, David Mulbeh, were quarantined. Military officers from the Gbarnga Regional Hub were deployed to enforce compliance and prevent any possible spread of infection.
Specimens from the deceased were dispatched to Monrovia for laboratory analysis. On Tuesday, September 10, 2025, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) announced that all tests returned negative for both Ebola and Marburg viruses.
“To date (10th September 2025 at 21:00 Hrs GMT), all specimens received and tested by the molecular PCR method at the National Reference Laboratory of the NPHIL have demonstrated ‘NEGATIVE’ for Ebola and Marburg. This NEGATIVE-TEST RESULT thereby rules out any of the indicated VHF infections in said biological specimens, NPHIL Director General Dr. Dougbeh Chris Nyan confirmed in a press release.
Despite the negative results, the more than 20 individuals remain in quarantine. NPHIL has not provided clarity on whether the restrictions will be lifted, a silence that has drawn mounting criticism. Civil society groups and community leaders argue that keeping people confined after negative results is fueling anxiety, stigmatization, and distrust.
“This kind of silence reopens old wounds. People remember the trauma of Ebola and expect better communication now,” said one Ganta resident.
Liberia’s scars from Ebola run deep. Between 2014 and 2016, the country lost over 4,800 people out of nearly 10,700 confirmed cases, recording some of the worst infection and death rates in the region. The crisis decimated the healthcare system, crippled the economy, and left lasting social trauma. Liberia was first declared Ebola-free in May 2015, only to suffer two flare-ups before the virus was finally eradicated in January 2016.
The outbreak pushed authorities to overhaul epidemic preparedness, leading to the creation of NPHIL in 2017. Since then, Liberia has dealt with sporadic suspected cases of Ebola and other viral infections but has avoided major outbreaks. Lessons from Ebola also shaped the nation’s COVID-19 response, strengthening surveillance, contact tracing, and quarantine systems.
Still, the current incident highlights lingering weaknesses. Critics say coordination between NPHIL and the Ministry of Health appears disjointed, leaving communities in limbo. Families of the quarantined individuals say they have received no clear guidance on how long the restrictions will last.
When contacted by FrontPage Africa, NPHIL Director General Dr. Nyan said he was attending an international conference in Abidjan but promised to coordinate with his team on the ground. At the time of publication, he had not responded to follow-up inquiries. The Ministry of Health has also not issued a formal statement.
Meanwhile, NPHIL is urging the public to remain calm and to rely on verified information from official channels. It also reminded citizens that Liberia is currently responding to multiple other outbreaks, including Mpox, Lassa fever, and Measles.
As pressure mounts, the central question for many in Ganta is simple: when will the quarantined funeral home staff, passengers, and family members be released so normal life can resume?
