Ghana Records First Mpox Case of the Year in Greater Accra Region
The Ghana Health Service has announced the country's first recorded Mpox case of the year, with the patient being a resident of the Western North region, not Greater Accra as initially reported ¹. This development brings the total number of African countries reporting Mpox cases to 16, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) [1).
Case Details
The patient, a young boy, presented symptoms including rash, fever, and general body pain. Fortunately, he is in stable condition and has been discharged from the hospital. Health officials are currently monitoring 25 of the patient's contacts ¹.
Mpox in Africa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Burundi account for nearly 95% of the 2,500 Mpox cases reported weekly in Africa ¹. In the DRC, the number of cases in Kinshasa is increasing, with one more zone reporting a clade 1b case ¹. The country's capital is experiencing circulation of both the 1a and 1b clades, with 616 cases, 171 of which are confirmed ¹.
Vaccination Efforts
The Mpox vaccination campaign in the DRC is expected to begin soon, following the launch of immunization in Rwanda ¹. Nigeria is also set to start administering doses ¹. The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved the first Mpox test for emergency use, expanding testing availability in affected countries ¹.
Ghana's Previous Mpox Cases
In 2023, Ghana reported eight Mpox cases ¹. The Ghana Health Service has been working to enhance surveillance and response measures to tackle the outbreak.
Prevention and Control
To prevent the spread of Mpox, the public is advised to:
- _Practice good hygiene_, including frequent handwashing
- _Avoid close contact_ with individuals showing symptoms
- _Report suspected cases_ to health authorities promptly
By taking these precautions and staying informed, we can work together to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
Prevention and Control
To prevent the spread of Mpox, the public is advised to:
- _Practice good hygiene_, including frequent handwashing
- _Avoid close contact_ with individuals showing symptoms
- _Report suspected cases_ to health authorities promptly
By taking these precautions and staying informed, we can work together to contain the outbreak and protect public health.
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