Greater Accra Region records 1 MPOX case – Ghana Health Service
MPOX Case in Ghana: Latest Developments
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed another case of MPOX in the Greater Accra Region, bringing the total number of recent cases to three. Dr. Dennis Laryea, the Deputy Director of Public Health in charge of Disease Surveillance, disclosed that this latest case was identified last week, with contact tracing underway to monitor individuals potentially exposed to the virus.
This follows Ghana's first recorded MPOX case in August in the Western Region, where 25 contacts were identified. Shortly after, the mother of the initial case tested positive, raising the count to two as of October 31.
Dr. Laryea emphasized the importance of vigilance in addressing infectious diseases, stating that the GHS's surveillance systems remain active to detect and manage outbreaks. “We are always constantly looking for these diseases,” he explained, adding that diseases like cholera, yellow fever, measles, and even COVID-19 are under continuous monitoring.
The health authorities in the Greater Accra Region are collaborating with district teams to ensure all contacts of the latest case are thoroughly followed up, confirming that no new symptoms have been detected among them so far.
Dr. Laryea urged the public to remain cautious, avoid close contact with individuals showing rashes, and seek medical attention promptly for suspicious symptoms. He elaborated on MPOX transmission, which primarily occurs through skin-to-skin contact, exposure to contaminated materials like clothing or bedding, or, less commonly, through sexual contact. He stressed the need for early diagnosis, as MPOX rashes can resemble other illnesses such as measles or chickenpox.
This latest case comes amidst ongoing regional concerns about MPOX, which the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency in Africa earlier this year. The continent has seen over 17,000 confirmed cases, with the Democratic Republic of Congo accounting for 96% of cases.
Ghanaians are encouraged to prioritize preventive measures and report any concerning symptoms to healthcare facilities to curb further spread.
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