Mpox cases now 519 – Ghana Health Service

Ghana has reported 25 new cases of the M-Pox disease, bringing the cumulative total to 519. There are currently no hospital admissions, while the mortality rate remains at 1.

The latest update indicates an increase from August 28, when 21 new cases were reported, bringing the total to 467. On August 25, the Service reported 22 cases, which pushed the cumulative figure to 446 at the time.

Health officials have emphasized that Mpox is primarily transmitted through close contact with an infected individual, with symptoms including fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes.

The Ghana Health Service has urged the public to remain vigilant, practice good hygiene, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of the symptoms.

The Service is anticipating the arrival of vaccines in the coming weeks to complement efforts in combating the disease.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has identified stigma and lack of awareness as the two primary challenges hindering the effective management of the Mpox disease outbreak in Ghana.

The country is expected to receive 33,600 vaccines in the coming weeks, which the GHS anticipates will disrupt the transmission of the virus.

As of now, Ghana has confirmed 494 cases across all 16 regions, with the Western, Western North, and Greater Accra regions remaining the disease hotspots.

According to Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the GHS, efforts are being made to enhance awareness nationwide. ‘We are working to expand and improve our awareness creation efforts, as we have encountered challenges in concentrating and intensifying our awareness campaigns.’

But I must state that there are parts of the country where awareness is high like the Western Region, Tarkwa.

In the next few weeks, we will get some vaccines and what is going to happen is that we will target the hot spots so most of it will go to the Western Region. Some particular districts to break the source of infection and transmission.” He stated.

Dr Bekoe further noted that the Service is hopeful of a decline in cases soon, as they prepare to gather the cohorts for the vaccination drive.

‘‘Thankfully almost 90% of case are all mild. We are also adopting a psychological support for the patients which will help them trust us and help us with the right contacts to trace. So, we have been able to identify a number that we are likely to get the vaccine to cut the infection. So, we are trying to identify clusters. So, for us our concentration is going to be the Western Region and some parts of Accra, the mining areas and some slums. And hopefully cases should decline soon.” He said.