Ghana records one MPox case in Western North Region

Ghana has confirmed a case of MPox in the Western North Region.

The current confirmed case is the first for Ghana in 2024.

Ghana recorded 120 cases in 2022 and 8 cases in 2023.

The National Public Health and Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) confirmed the case in the Western North Region following laboratory testing.

The patient is a 15-year-old male who reported at a district government hospital on September 15, 2024 with a three-day history of fever, general body pains, sore throat and rash which was initially in the palm and face but spread to the trunk and extremities.

There is no history of travel over the past 21 days or history of sexual exposure to a potentially infectious person.

The case was initially admitted but was later discharged and currently stable at home.

The Western North Regional Health Directorate and the Bia West District have activated public health emergency.

A total of 25 contacts of the case have been identified and are currently being monitored. It is made up of 15 facility and 10 community contacts.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in a press statement confirming the case said Public Health Measures have been undertaken including issuance of an alert to all regions and teaching hospitals following the declarations by the Africa CDC and the WHO in August 2024.

It said said there has also been a heightened surveillance for Mpox, sensitization of health staff on Mpox, mobilization of Personal Protecting Equipment (PPE) for staff, strict Infection Prevention Control (IPC) with barrier nursing, contact management and tracing and National Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) activation.

Additional public health actions to be undertaken are activation of Public Health Emergency Management Committees at all levels (National, Regional and District), continuous sensitisation of staff on Mpox (Prevention, Case Management, Standard Precautionary Measures, Barrier Nursing), detailed outbreak investigations, further contact tracing, enhanced surveillance in general including Points of Entry Surveillance and Screening and public education.

Below is statement issued by the Ghana Health Service on the Mpox case

CONFIRMED CASE OF MPOX IN GHANA

On the 1st of October 2024, the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) of the Ghana Health Service confirmed a case of Mpox following the testing of samples from a patient from the Western North Region.

The patient, a young male child presented with a history of rash, fever and general bodily pains.

The alert medical staff took the appropriate samples and dispatched them to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) for laboratory investigations.

The ‘suspected case of Mpox’ was isolated in line with protocols for managing Mpox.

Twenty-five (25) contacts of the case have been identified and are currently being monitored.

The patient has since been discharged and is in stable condition.

A month ago, the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) with the WHO also declaring it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Several countries in Africa notably, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Africa and La Cote d’Ivoire have recorded cases of Mpox in 2024.

The current confirmed case is the first for Ghana in 2024. Ghana recorded 120 cases in 2022 and 8 cases in 2023.
The following Public Health Measures have been undertaken:

Issuance of an alert to all regions and teaching hospitals following the declarations by the Africa CDC and the WHO in August 2024
Heightened surveillance for Mpox.
Sensitization of health staff on Mpox.
Mobilization of Personal Protecting Equipment (PPE) for staff.
Strict Infection Prevention Control (IPC) with barrier nursing.
Contact management and tracing.
National Public Health Emergency Operation Centre (PHEOC) activation.

Additional Public Health Actions to be undertaken:

Activation of Public Health Emergency Management Committees at all levels (National, Regional and District).
Continuous sensitization of staff on Mpox (Prevention, Case Management, Standard Precautionary Measures, Barrier Nursing)
Detailed outbreak investigations.
Further contact tracing.
Enhanced surveillance in general including Points of Entry Surveillance and Screening.
Public education.

The public is assured that the health system has the capacity to manage the Mpox outbreak. The public is urged to report promptly to the nearest health facility, if any of the symptoms of Mpox is suspected, for the necessary investigations and appropriate management.

source: graphic.com.gh