Media restrictions

Liberia requires journalists to obtain official permission to cover many aspects of the outbreak under new rules aimed at protecting patient privacy. Journalists can be arrested and prosecuted if they fail to get written permission from the health ministry before contacting Ebola patients, conducting interviews or filming or photographing healthcare facilities. Tolbert Nyenswah, assistant minister of health and head of Liberia’s Ebola Incident Management System:

We have noted with great concern that photographs have been taken in treatment centers while patients are going in to be attended by doctors. That is invasion of the dignity, privacy and respect of patients. Ebola patients are no different from any other patients. We should do that (report) under permission so that we don’t just take pictures or send out stories of naked people (in a way) that does not respect their privacy.