By By: The People News
Monrovia — The John F. Kennedy Memorial Medical Center has suspended a registered nurse pending investigation after she allegedly shared an audio message claiming Ebola symptoms were detected in patients who recently returned from Uganda.
In a letter dated May 25, 2026, JFK Medical Center notified Ms. Paola N. Bedell, a registered nurse at E. S. Grant Psychiatric Hospital, of her immediate suspension from duty. The letter, signed by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Linda A. Birch, cites an audio message Bedell shared in a WhatsApp chat group as the basis for the action.
According to the hospital, Bedell stated in the recording that there were patients with symptoms suggestive of Ebola virus disease who had recently returned from a church conference in Uganda. The letter says she also alleged that JFK Medical Center, together with Liberia’s Ministry of Health, was attempting to conceal these cases from the public.
JFK management said the audio has since circulated widely on local and international platforms, causing “significant public panic” and prompting involvement from national security agencies. The hospital directed Bedell to refrain from performing any official duties or representing JFK or E. S. Grant Psychiatric Hospital during the suspension.
The letter states that the suspension “is not a presumption of guilt but a necessary step to allow for a thorough and impartial investigation.” It adds that the duration of the suspension will depend on the outcome of the investigation, and that Bedell will be informed in writing of further developments.
As of Tuesday, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia has not confirmed any Ebola cases in the country. NPHIL announced this week that it is monitoring 16 travelers from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a precautionary measure.
JFK Medical Center did not provide further comment beyond the letter.
