Ghana has tragically recorded its first fatality from Mpox, as confirmed by health authorities on Sunday, amidst a concerning surge in new infections across the West African nation.
Twenty-three fresh cases of the viral disease were confirmed within the past week alone, elevating Ghana’s total number of infections to 257 since the virus initially emerged in June 2022.
This latest figure signifies the highest weekly increase recorded since the outbreak began and marks the devastating first death attributable to the disease in the country.
Ghana’s Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, assured AFP that the public health situation remains firmly “under control,” despite the recent surge.
Akandoh further emphasized that early detection of cases and responsible personal behavior are absolutely critical keys to effectively limiting this current outbreak.
Mpox, formerly identified as Monkeypox, is a viral infection closely related to smallpox, causing characteristic fever, widespread body aches, and distinct skin lesions which can unfortunately prove deadly.
The disease primarily spreads through close physical contact with infected individuals or through direct exposure to contaminated materials, necessitating careful precautions.
A Ghanaian government agency responsible for national public health is now anticipating receiving vital vaccine doses from the World Health Organization later this current week.
Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, a director with the service, informed AFP that Ghana’s at-risk populations have already been precisely identified, ensuring readiness for vaccination upon vaccine arrival.
The intensifying Mpox outbreak in Ghana sadly mirrors a broader and concerning trend observed across the West African region, where health officials are earnestly struggling to contain the disease’s spread.
Thousands of new cases have been officially recorded across the wider region this year, with Sierra Leone alone registering a staggering 3,350 cases, including 16 deaths, from January to late May.
Furthermore, thousands more Mpox cases have also been detected this year across the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi, according to recent figures from the World Health Organization.
Africa CDC data released last week indicate over 47,000 confirmed cases and 221 deaths have been reported across the entire continent since January of last year.
At least 27,000 of those confirmed cases were specifically recorded during this current year alone, highlighting the accelerating regional challenge.
Last month, WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the virus regrettably remains an international public health emergency amid the alarming rise in West African cases.
