The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has initiated contact tracing efforts to identify individuals who might have come into contact with the two confirmed cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) recently reported in the Accra Metropolitan Area.
It said those contacts would be monitored for symptoms and provided with appropriate care and guidance.
These measures form part of the necessary public health response the GHS is swiftly implementing to contain the spread of the virus, following confirmation of the two cases last Thursday.
The update was contained in a press release issued by the acting Director-General of the GHS, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, on May 15.
Mpox is a viral disease transmitted to humans through close contact with an infected person or animal, or through materials contaminated with the virus. Symptoms typically include rash, fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
Ghana recorded its first Mpox case in June 2022 with five confirmed cases. Since the beginning of 2022, the country has recorded 116 confirmed cases with four deaths. By the latter part of that year, nine new confirmed cases were reported, with no additional deaths.
The release stated that the service was enhancing surveillance in health facilities and communities to ensure that any further suspected cases were identified and investigated promptly.
“The Ministry of Health and the service are also intensifying public awareness campaigns to educate the populace about Mpox, including its symptoms, modes of transmission, and preventive measures,” it added.
It further assured the public that there was no cause for alarm, emphasising that the GHS had the capacity and expertise to manage the situation and prevent a larger outbreak.
It noted that Ghana’s public health system remained vigilant and that established protocols for detecting, managing, and controlling infectious diseases were being rigorously followed.
The GHS, however, urged the public to practise good hand hygiene, avoid close contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms such as rash, and immediately report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility.