No hospital admissions have been recorded, while the death toll remains at eight.

Health authorities say surveillance is ongoing across all 16 regions, with teams monitoring infections to prevent further spread.

Officials cautioned that although current cases appear less severe, the public must remain vigilant.

The GHS explained that Mpox, caused by the monkeypox virus, is transmitted mainly through close physical contact, including exposure to body fluids, skin lesions, respiratory droplets, and contaminated surfaces.

Symptoms typically include fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a painful rash that may leave permanent scars.

The Service has advised Ghanaians to avoid close contact with persons showing unusual rashes, maintain strict hygiene, and seek early medical care for flu-like symptoms.

Frequent handwashing, use of sanitizers, and mask-wearing remain key preventive measures.

Beyond Ghana, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 17,000 suspected cases and 517 deaths across the continent in 2024.

The World Health Organization has since renewed alerts, underscoring the need for vigilance as vaccines are gradually deployed to protect high-risk populations.

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The outbreak, which began in May 2025, has affected 124 districts across the country, with the Greater Accra Region and Western Region emerging as the most affected areas.

Addressing Parliament of Ghana on Monday, March 9, the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, outlined the government’s response measures aimed at containing the disease and protecting public health.

He explained that the Ministry, working through the Ghana Health Service and with support from partners, has activated a coordinated multi-sectoral response to curb the spread of the virus.

“Since the outbreak began in May 2025, 880 cases had been confirmed by November 25, 2025. As of March 3, 2026, Ghana has recorded 1,038 confirmed cases and eight deaths, largely among persons with underlying health conditions,” the Minister said.

According to the Ministry, the outbreak has now spread to 124 districts, representing 47.5% of districts nationwide. However, the situation remains relatively controlled, with only one patient currently on admission and no critical cases reported.

As part of efforts to manage the outbreak, Ghana has received 33,600 Mpox vaccine doses from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

So far, 31,231 individuals have been vaccinated across 12 districts in the Ashanti Region, Greater Accra Region and Western Region, representing more than 95% coverage of the targeted population.

Mr Akandoh further assured the public that the government is fully covering the medical expenses of Mpox patients to ease the financial burden on affected persons.

He added that the interventions introduced by the government are intended to protect public health while ensuring that response measures remain efficient and accessible to all.

According to the latest update, seven deaths have been recorded since the outbreak began, while one patient remains on admission receiving medical care.

Health authorities say Mpox continues to spread primarily through close physical contact with infected individuals, including skin-to-skin contact, respiratory droplets, or contact with contaminated materials such as clothing and bedding.

The Ghana Health Service is urging the public to remain vigilant and report early symptoms to health facilities to prevent further transmission.

Key symptoms to watch for include fever, skin rash, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and extreme tiredness.

Officials emphasise that early detection and prompt medical attention are critical in controlling the spread and improving recovery outcomes.

Health authorities have assured the public that Ghana’s surveillance and response systems remain active and capable of managing the situation, while urging continued cooperation to contain the outbreak.

The virus is a mix of two major types of the mpox virus, and was found in someone who recently returned from travelling in Asia.

Officials say they are still assessing the significance of the new strain.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says it is normal for viruses to evolve. Getting vaccinated remains the best way to protect against severe disease – although an mpox infection is mild for many.

The new virus strain contains elements of two mpox strains, called clade Ib and clade IIb. It currently has no name.

UK health officials recently encouraged gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men to make sure they were vaccinated against mpox.

That call came as a strain called ‘clade Ib’ showed early signs of local spread in some European countries.

‘Clade IIb’ is linked to a global outbreak of mpox in 2022 which affected many countries worldwide.

In the UK, vaccination is available for groups of people at highest risk of catching mpox:

• those who have multiple sexual partners
• those who engage in group sex
• those who visit sex-on-premises venues

Health officials say the vaccine is 75-80% effective at protecting against mpox.

There have been no studies on how well the vaccine protects against this latest strain, although it’s thought there will be a high degree of protection.

Dr Katy Sinka, head of sexually transmitted infections at UKHSA, said genomic testing had allowed it to be detected.

“It’s normal for viruses to evolve, and further analysis will help us understand more about how mpox is changing.

“Getting vaccinated is a proven effective way to protect yourself against severe disease, so please make sure to get the jab if you are eligible,” she said.

Prof Trudie Lang, director of the Global Health Network at the University of Oxford, said there were “excellent systems” to identify cases and control onward infection in the UK, but in other parts of the world, in more vulnerable populations, “this is harder to achieve”, where access to vaccines is not as reliable.

Prof Lang said if further cases of this strain appeared in the UK and elsewhere, it would be important to understand how it’s being spread and how ill it makes people, in order to assess whether it’s more or less dangerous than previous strains.

There have been nearly 48,000 confirmed cases of mpox globally in 2025, and 2,500 in the past month, with most occurring in central Africa.

Dr Boghuma Titanji, assistant professor of medicine at Emory University, said the new strain is what experts feared would happen if mpox continued to spread worldwide.

“The more mpox circulation we permit, the more opportunities the virus has to recombine and adapt, further entrenching mpox virus as a human pathogen that is not going away,” she said.

What is mpox?

Mpox can be a unpleasant illness.

Common symptoms are lesions or a skin rash, which can last for two to four weeks, plus fever, headaches, back pain, muscle aches and tiredness.

The virus spreads from person to person through close physical contact, coughs or sneezes and touching infected clothing, bedding or towels.

Health officials say anyone who thinks they might have mpox, should contact NHS 111 for advice on what to do.

The update follows an earlier report on October 14, 2025, when 22 new infections were recorded, pushing the total to 735 at the time.

Mpox spreads through close contact with an infected person. Health officials are urging the public to maintain good hygiene and report symptoms without delay.

Common symptoms include fever, rash, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, chills and tiredness. People who experience these signs are advised to seek medical attention at the nearest health facility.

According to earlier situational data, cases reported in October involved people aged one to 50 years from Western, Bono, Greater Accra and Western North. At the time, two patients were on admission.

The death toll stood at three with no new deaths. The cumulative number of suspected cases was 3,506, and more than 3,800 contacts had been identified since the outbreak began.

The Ghana Health Service has been stepping up its response through workshops on a typical Mpox presentations, wound care, home isolation procedures, and psychosocial support in eight selected regions.

These sessions are for staff at ART sites, STI clinics, and other facilities to improve detection and case management.

Public education has also increased. Weekly social media updates are ongoing, along with a multilingual telephone poll to assess public awareness of Mpox prevention messages.

As of mid-October, more than 14,490 people, representing 73.9 per cent of the target group, had been vaccinated. Most of the vaccinated individuals were between twenty and thirty-nine years old.

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This brings the total number of recorded cases nationwide to 670, marking a steady increase in recent weeks.

According to the GHS, three deaths have been recorded so far, while one patient remains on admission receiving medical care.

Health officials have cautioned that Mpox spreads mainly through direct contact with infected persons, urging the public to be vigilant.

The GHS further advised Ghanaians to practice good personal hygiene and to promptly report to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as fever, rash, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, chills, or fatigue.

Source: AdomOnline

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Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Hwidiem, Regional Health Director Dr. Akosua Owusu-Sarpong revealed that the cases were recorded in the Asunafo North and Asunafo South districts.

She commended health workers for their swift response and effective management, which ensured the patients’ recovery.

Dr. Owusu-Sarpong assured the public that there is no cause for fear or panic, noting that thorough contact tracing was carried out to protect families and communities.

She, however, urged residents to remain vigilant and seek immediate medical attention if they notice symptoms such as rashes, fever, sore throat, headache, back pain, low energy, muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes.

“Early reporting is key to saving lives. Anyone who develops these symptoms should quickly visit the nearest health facility,” she advised.

Source: Sammy Asare

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One additional death has also been recorded, raising the cumulative death toll to two. Currently, two patients are on admission receiving treatment.

Health authorities have reminded the public that Mpox spreads mainly through close contact with infected persons.

Citizens are therefore urged to maintain good hygiene and promptly report to the nearest health facility if they experience symptoms such as fever, rashes, headaches, muscle aches, or swollen lymph nodes.

The GHS has reiterated its call for vigilance to help curb the spread of the disease.

Source: Adomonline

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In its latest update, the Service said one patient is currently on admission, while the national death toll remains at one.

Health officials are urging the public to remain vigilant, practice proper hygiene, and seek prompt medical care if they experience symptoms such as fever, headache, rash, swollen lymph nodes, or muscle pain.

Mpox is primarily spread through close contact with an infected person.

Source: Adomonline

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The patient, who recently traveled from the Accra Konkomba market, began showing symptoms consistent with the viral disease, including fever and skin rashes.

Health officers immediately placed the individual under medical review, and subsequent tests confirmed the presence of mpox.

District Health Director, Eric Kojo Agboka, disclosed the case at a press briefing, noting that the confirmation comes at a time when the world is still grappling with rising infections.

Following the confirmation, the District Health Directorate has begun tracing individuals who may have come into close contact with the patient.

Public health teams are also conducting community sensitisation campaigns to educate residents on the symptoms of mpox and emphasize personal hygiene as a preventive measure.

He explained that mpox is a zoonotic viral disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, and also spreads through close human-to-human contact.

“Symptoms such as fever, rashes, and swollen lymph nodes should not be ignored. Anyone experiencing these signs should seek medical care immediately,” Mr. Agboka advised.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nkwanta North, Isaiah Dordoe, has appealed for calm while urging residents to remain vigilant. “We are working closely with the health department to ensure that all necessary measures are in place to prevent further spread of the virus,” he assured.

Mr. Dordoe further stressed the importance of community cooperation, calling on locals to promptly report unusual symptoms to health authorities.

The Nkwanta North District Health Directorate says it will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide regular updates to the public as measures are enforced to contain the disease.

SEE ALSO 

Source: Obrempongba K. Owusu

According to the latest update, two patients are currently on admission, while the majority of affected persons are being managed in their respective communities under surveillance.

Mpox, a viral disease, spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person, including direct skin-to-skin contact, body fluids, or contaminated materials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) continue to stress the importance of early detection and prevention.

Health authorities are advising the public to adopt strict preventive measures, including avoiding close contact with persons suspected or confirmed to have Mpox, washing hands frequently with soap and water and avoiding frequent touching of the eyes, nose, and mouth.

The Ghana Health Service has also intensified public education campaigns in communities to raise awareness of the symptoms and prevention strategies. Symptoms of Mpox typically include fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash that develops into lesions.

Health experts have reassured the public that Ghana’s health system remains alert and well-prepared to manage cases, but emphasize that individual responsibility and adherence to preventive practices are crucial in containing the spread.

Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases to the nearest health facility for prompt medical attention.

The death toll remains at one, with no new fatalities recorded and no patients currently on admission.

In its previous update on August 7, 2025, the GHS urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid close contact with individuals showing symptoms, and promptly report suspected cases to the nearest health facility.

The Service noted that it is working with regional directorates to trace contacts and strengthen the country’s coordinated response to the outbreak.

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, spreads primarily through close physical contact with an infected person. The latest figure follows last week’s report of 23 new infections, which raised the total to 257 at the time.

According to health officials, the virus continues to spread mainly through skin-to-skin contact and exposure to rashes or bodily fluids of those infected.

The GHS last week announced the country’s first recorded Mpox-related death since the disease was detected in Ghana. That report marked the highest weekly increase in cases and a turning point in the outbreak, which had until then not claimed any lives.

Mpox typically causes fever, body aches, and distinctive skin rashes. While most patients recover without complications, the virus poses higher risks to children, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

The Ghana Health Service is urging the public to remain vigilant, avoid close contact with symptomatic individuals, and report suspected cases immediately to the nearest health facility.

“Protect yourself and others by avoiding close contact with those showing symptoms, and ensure you report any suspected signs to the nearest health facility,” the GHS said in a public notice.

Officials emphasize that early detection and isolation remain the most effective strategies in containing the virus. The Service says it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with regional health directorates to trace contacts and implement a nationwide public health response.

As part of its containment efforts, the GHS is intensifying public education and encouraging citizens to rely on credible sources for information.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

In an interview with Joy News, Dr Agyemang decried the glaring disconnect between the growing number of confirmed Mpox cases and the lack of an adequate national response.

He warned that the government’s silence, coupled with the absence of clear public health messaging, is placing countless lives at risk.

“Over 200 cases have been recorded, with one confirmed death,” he stated. “Yet, many of my constituents—and even Members of Parliament—have not been officially briefed. This hasn’t even come before the Health Committee.”

In the face of rising infections and what he calls worryingly low awareness, Dr Agyemang expressed grave concern over the lack of public awareness surrounding the disease.

Despite the rise in cases, particularly in high-density areas like Chorkor, he said public understanding remains dangerously low.

“Go to the streets and ask young people about Mpox—most don’t even know what it is. That is alarming,” he remarked. “This is a medical condition that can affect anyone. We need deliberate national communication.”

He attributed much of the confusion and complacency to ineffective health promotion and poor public education, warning that misinformation and underreporting may complicate containment efforts.

Drawing comparisons with Ghana’s COVID-19 response, Dr Agyemang said the handling of the Mpox outbreak falls far short of expectations, insisting it is a missed opportunity to apply lessons from COVID-19.

“During COVID, we saw active engagement from the presidency and daily briefings. Why is Mpox being treated differently when it also poses a serious public health risk?” he questioned.

He called for a coordinated national response, urging the government to launch a comprehensive plan that includes enhanced screening, stronger isolation protocols, expanded testing, and a well-structured public education campaign led by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.

Turning his attention to the media, Dr Agyemang appealed to journalists and broadcasters to treat the outbreak with the seriousness it deserves by using their platforms to educate the public.

“What protocols are you airing? What information are you sharing with the public?” he challenged. “The media must be deliberate. This is not a time to pick and choose what trends—this is about the health of the nation.”

Dr Agyemang concluded with a passionate call for immediate Cabinet-level intervention, stressing that the cost of inaction is far too high.

“The government must act now. The health of the nation is not negotiable.”

Mpox, a contagious virus spread through close contact, has historically surfaced in parts of West and Central Africa. However, its recent re-emergence in urban populations has alarmed health experts, who are urging increased vigilance as containment efforts gain momentum.

Source:myjoyonline

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In its latest update, the GHS stated that no new deaths have been recorded, with the cumulative death toll remaining at zero. It also noted that there are currently no active hospital admissions related to the disease.

Mpox, a viral illness that spreads primarily through close skin-to-skin contact with infected individuals, continues to be a public health concern.

The GHS has advised the public to avoid direct contact with individuals showing symptoms and to seek medical attention promptly to curb further spread.

Source: AdomOnline

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The Regional Health Director, Dr. Akosua Owusu-Sarpong, disclosed this in an interview with Adom News during a health-focused event in Goaso, attended by representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the Regional Coordinating Council, and Newmont.

She indicated that the confirmed case was recorded in the Asunafo South District, and the affected individual is currently undergoing treatment.

Samples from the 12 suspected cases have been sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra for testing.

Dr. Owusu-Sarpong urged the public to adhere strictly to health education and preventive measures outlined by health professionals to curb the spread of the disease.

Commenting on the issue, Ahafo Regional Minister, Charity Gardiner, described the development as unfortunate due to the contagious nature of the virus.

She assured the public that the Regional Coordinating Council is committed to supporting the Health Directorate’s response efforts.

Both officials stressed the importance of community cooperation and the need for prompt reporting of symptoms to ensure effective containment.

Source: Sammy Asare

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This follows the 30 cases reported on June 30, marking a steady but noticeable rise over the past week.

Despite the uptick, health authorities say the outbreak remains under control, with no new hospitalisations or fatalities recorded.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness that spreads primarily through close physical contact with infected individuals. It typically presents with fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash. While many cases are mild, the virus can pose serious health risks if not treated promptly.

In response to the recent increase, the GHS is reinforcing its public health messaging, urging Ghanaians to remain vigilant and adhere strictly to preventive measures.

These include avoiding close contact with individuals showing signs of a rash, washing hands frequently and thoroughly, and seeking immediate medical attention at the first sign of symptoms.

Health officials continue to emphasise the importance of early detection and prompt reporting in containing the spread.

The GHS has reaffirmed its commitment to aggressive surveillance, swift intervention, and community engagement to limit transmission.

With total cases now at 170, the Service is calling on all citizens to stay alert, comply with safety protocols, and support national efforts to protect public health across the country.

Source: Kareen Tei

Meanwhile the Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson has called on the Regional House of Chiefs to advocate for upgrades in the region’s health facilities particularly the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

Speaking at the Western Region Development Retreat, the Regional Health Directorate’s Chief Pharmacist, Kwadwo Okyere Apenteng, disclosed the region has reported 187 suspected and 43 confirmed Mpox cases, contributing to 71% of the Ghana’s 107 cases.

Nine of the region’s 14 districts have recorded cases, with Tarkwa Nsuaem having the highest number.

He said the region has reactivated its public health emergency response team and intensified active surveillance to curb the spread of Mpox.

“As a directorate, we’ve reactivated the Public Health Emergency Response Team to coordinate daily activities. We’re receiving updates from districts, managing cases, and conducting active surveillance.

We’ve identified 187 cases and traced 246 contacts, whom we’re monitoring for potential infection.” He mentioned.

Regarding maternal deaths, 25 fatalities were recorded from January to May 2025, exceeding 2024’s numbers for the same period.

This was largely blamed on delayed antenatal care, delayed referrals, and poor road conditions.

“Between January and May, we’ve recorded 25 maternal deaths a concerning increase from the same period last year. Key contributing factors include delayed hospital visits, challenges in referring patients from rural areas to better-equipped facilities, and poor road conditions.”

Meanwhile, the Western Region Minister Joseph Nelson has urged the Regional House of Chiefs to advocate for critical healthcare needs, whilst pushing for the expedited upgrade of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

“The ongoing renovations at Effia Nkwanta Hospital have stalled, and we pray for their resumption. Completing this project is crucial, and we must advocate for its timely finish to meet our healthcare needs.” he mentioned.

No new deaths have been recorded, keeping the death toll at zero. Currently, four patients remain on admission.

The GHS attributes the recent rise in cases to enhanced surveillance efforts, including active contact tracing and increased public awareness.

These measures are aimed at identifying and isolating cases quickly within communities.

The GHS reaffirmed its commitment to early detection and containment, and urged the public to practice preventive measures such as avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals, maintaining proper hygiene, and seeking medical care promptly if symptoms appear.

The Ghana Health Service says the region is on high alert as part of broader national efforts to contain the spread of the disease.

Speaking at a media briefing in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, revealed that ten suspected cases have been tested in the region so far, all returning negative.

“Currently we have recorded some cases of MPOX in the country. As I speak, in the Ashanti region we have suspected 10 of them but all of them are negative,” he disclosed.

Dr. Adomako Boateng emphasized that the disease, which spreads through close physical contact, requires clinicians to conduct thorough examinations, including of private and less-visible areas, to detect early signs of the infection.

“Because Mpox is transmitted through physical close contact, we entreat our clinicians and other people that when you’re examining people, make sure that you examine the private areas and the inner areas, because they can also have the rashes there and they are absent in the other places,” he urged.

He also noted that people with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of severe illness and encouraged the public to manage any existing medical issues effectively.

“People who have other challenges are likely to have it and when they have it, they tend to develop severe forms of the disease. So, make sure when you have any other problem, you are on your medications,” he added.

While there is currently no vaccine in use in Ghana, Dr. Adomako Boateng assured that measures have been taken to manage suspected cases across health facilities.

“For all the hospitals and facilities, we have sent an alert note… Every facility is also to ensure that they have what we call an isolation area, so that when someone is presented with this and you think it’s likely to be Mpox, you make sure at least that person is taken from the general OPD area and taken there,” he said.

Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely and are urging the public to report symptoms and avoid close contact with anyone suspected of being infected.

Health officials say five of the patients are currently on admission and receiving treatment, with no deaths reported in the latest outbreak.

The GHS has assured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation and has heightened surveillance efforts, especially in affected regions, to contain the spread of the virus.

Mpox is a viral zoonotic disease related to smallpox. Common symptoms include fever, severe headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, backache, and a characteristic skin rash. It spreads through direct contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets, and contaminated materials such as clothing or bedding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently renewed calls for increased investment in Mpox diagnostics, vaccine development, and public education initiatives across Africa. The organisation also emphasized the importance of de-stigmatising Mpox to ensure affected individuals seek timely treatment without fear of discrimination.

Source: AdomOnline

Dr. Dennis Odai Laryea, Deputy Director of Surveillance at the GHS and Consultant Public Health Physician, shared the update in an interview on Channel One TV on Friday, May 23.

“Currently, we have eight confirmed cases. Cumulatively for this year, that makes nine. One case was recorded earlier in the year and was quickly contained. The latest outbreak has produced eight confirmed cases—four each in the Greater Accra and Western Regions,” he revealed.

As part of its surveillance efforts, health authorities have investigated over 100 suspected cases of Mpox across the country. While all 16 regions have reported suspected cases, confirmed infections have so far been limited to the Greater Accra and Western Regions.

Dr. Laryea assured the public that the GHS’s surveillance system is designed to quickly identify and respond to suspected infections, thereby minimizing the risk of widespread transmission.

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In a statement, GhiSEP stressed the need for organisations to implement proactive measures to protect both staff and the general public, hence its seven guidelines.

GhiSEP noted that these steps not only demonstrate a commitment to safety but also help build public trust during a health emergency.

Read the full statement below for the guidelines:

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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.

Consequently, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has responded by directing all regional health directors to reactivate their public health emergency operations centres.

They are also being urged to step up surveillance, risk communication, and case management efforts across the country.

These new cases mark the first confirmed infections this year.

According to health officials, the two cases are unrelated and were both identified at a health facility.

Contact tracing is currently underway to prevent further spread. The patients are under close monitoring.

Ghana’s outbreak of Mpox began on June 8, 2022, when five initial cases were reported.

By November 2023, the country had confirmed a total of 34 cases. Before this outbreak, Mpox was not known to be endemic in Ghana.

A circular signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service called for a renewed response to the threat, including improved detection and response strategies.

Mpox is a viral illness similar to smallpox. It typically causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash. The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person’s skin or bodily fluids, including through sexual contact. Symptoms may include fever, rash or lesions, tiredness, headaches, muscle and back pain, and swollen glands.

Across Africa, the disease remains a major concern. As of March 2025, more than 24,200 cases and around 260 deaths have been recorded in 22 countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been hardest hit, accounting for a large share of both the cases and the fatalities.

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Officials at Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), a leading health agency on the continent, have said they are worried as the missing patients risk spreading the highly contagious disease that is suspected to have killed at 900 people in DR Congo last year.

The patients fled from facilities in Goma and Bukavu – two cities that descended into chaos as they were seized by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels over the past weeks.

“We were looted. We lost equipment. It was a disaster,” Dr Samuel Muhindo, in charge of a clinic in Goma, told the BBC.

Mpox – formerly known as monkeypox – can cause symptoms such as lesions, headaches and fever.

According to Africa CDC, since the start of this year almost 2,890 mpox cases and 180 deaths have been reported in the country, which has been at the epicentre of several recent outbreaks.

Dr Muhindo described how 128 patients had fled Goma’s Mugunga health centre in the wake of the fighting at the end of January.

His health workers had not been able to trace them as paperwork at the clinic was destroyed, he said.

At Bisengimana, a hospital in Goma that also treats mpox, looters took medicines and personal protective equipment.

Fires were lit outside the centre and when the perpetrators departed, patients’ medical records were left strewn on the floor.

The situation has been further complicated by the M23’s decision to close a network of camps in Goma where tens of thousands of people who had sought refuge from fighting in recent years.

They were given 72 hours to leave last week, although the M23 later said it was encouraging “voluntary returns”.

“Now we are afraid of an outbreak of the epidemic in the areas where the displaced people returned to,” Dr Muhindo said.

His fears have been echoed by the Africa CDC.

“Once again, we are calling really for the ceasefire and also the agency to establish a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the continuation of mpox interventions,” Dr Ngashi Ngongo, Africa CDC’s mpox incident manager, said on Thursday.

Over the last week, the Africa CDC says the number of missing mpox patients has risen by 100 as fighting escalates and the rebels take more territory.

Dr Ngongo added that a new variant of mpox with “high potential for higher transmissibility” had also been detected in DR Congo.

The country’s ability to respond to the disease has been hampered by the conflict, between the M23 and DR Congo’s army, as well as a lack of funding.

The mpox facility at Mugunga, funded by the UN children’s agency (Unicef) and UK Aid Direct, managed to reopen last week.

But it is already so overstretched that there are times when four or five patients have to share one bed.

“I first fled from Minova to Goma when the M23 rebels began to advance from there,” Sadiki Bichichi Aristide, a 23-year-old being treated at Mugunga along with two of his children, told the BBC.

“I began to fall sick in a [camp for displaced people]. It started with my fingers, and then I had lesions, which began to rupture on my hands. My neighbours told me to go to Mugunga with my children. I left my wife behind.”

He said he had seen “so many” people with mpox before he arrived at the clinic last week.

Dr Oummani Rouafi, Unicef’s Goma health specialist, told the BBC that the only reason Mugunga hospital had reopened was because staff had managed to hide some equipment and medicine from the looters.

But this had not been the case at many other treatment centres that had been completely ransacked, he said.

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The meeting brings together stakeholders from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to discuss strategies for preventing and responding to the Mpox outbreak, as well as other diseases with epidemic potential.

The West African region has faced numerous public health challenges, including infectious disease outbreaks like Ebola, Lassa fever, measles, and COVID-19, which often transcend national borders.

This highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration in disease surveillance and response.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire share common borders, facilitating the movement of people, goods, and animals across these boundaries.

However, this proximity also increases the risk of infectious diseases spreading rapidly across borders, emphasizing the need for coordinated and collaborative approaches to disease surveillance.

Epidemiological data indicate the evolution of Mpox, as well as other public health events like meningitis, dengue fever, and cholera, in cross-border health districts.

Common challenges in these areas include insecurity, delayed test results, insufficient logistics, and limited treatment options.

To address these challenges, the World Health Organization’s International Health Regulations (IHR) emphasize the importance of cross-border collaboration to prevent the international spread of diseases.

By pooling resources and expertise, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire can optimize their efforts in disease surveillance, ensuring more comprehensive coverage and quicker responses to potential outbreaks.

Dr. Kwame Amponsah-Achiano, Head of Disease Control and Program Manager at the Ghana Health Service, stressed the significance of collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two countries.

He emphasized the need to analyze the epidemiological situation in both countries, share experiences, and develop a robust joint action plan.

Dr. Virgil Lokossou of the West African Health Organization (WAHO) also highlighted the importance of strengthening national epidemiological surveillance and response systems, particularly in cross-border areas.

WAHO aims to initiate a cross-border meeting in San Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire, to foster regional health security and safeguard the well-being of populations in both countries.

The West African country’s health minister announced the move on Monday after the second case of the deadly viral disease was confirmed.

“The confirmation of two cases of mpox in the country has prompted immediate action as mandated by the Public Health Act,” Health Minister Austin Demby told reporters in the capital, Freetown. “On behalf of the government of Sierra Leone, I am declaring a public health emergency.”

Last week, Sierra Leone reported its first confirmed case of mpox since the African Union’s health watchdog declared a public health emergency over the growing mpox outbreak on the continent last year.

A second case was confirmed after a 21-year-old man showed symptoms on January 6, the National Public Health Agency said on social media.

Neither case had known recent contact with infected animals or other sick individuals, the Ministry of Health and Sanitation said.

Only the first case involved recent travel, limited to the airport town of Lungi in the northern Port Loko District between December 26 and January 6. Both patients are receiving treatment at a hospital in Freetown.

The public health emergency “allows us to act immediately to mobilise the resources needed to contain the disease, prevent further spread and provide care to those affected”, the minister said.

Demby also announced increased border surveillance and testing, as well as the launch of a national awareness campaign. He added that Sierra Leone’s medical system was ready to respond to cases, pointing to experience gained during the Ebola and COVID-19 outbreaks.

“We urge all citizens to remain calm, stay informed and report any suspected cases promptly to healthcare authorities,” Demby said.

Mpox is caused by a virus from the same family as smallpox, manifesting in a high fever and skin lesions, called vesicles.

Also known as monkeypox, it was first identified by scientists in 1958 when outbreaks of a “pox-like” disease in monkeys occurred. Until recently, most human cases were seen in people in Central and West Africa who had close contact with infected animals.

In 2022, the virus was confirmed for the first time to spread via sex, as outbreaks were triggered in more than 70 countries across the world that had not reported mpox previously.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has borne the brunt of the epidemic, with a vast majority of the roughly 43,000 suspected cases and 1,000 deaths in Africa this year.

A decade ago, Sierra Leone was the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak that ravaged West Africa in an epidemic killing some 4,000 people, including nearly 7 per cent of the country’s health workers, between 2014 and 2016.

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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) disclosed the development, assuring the public that all necessary measures are being implemented to monitor and contain the situation.

According to Dr. Dennis Laryea, Deputy Director of Public Health in charge of Disease Surveillance at GHS, the latest case was confirmed last week.

“There was one case confirmed in the Greater Accra Region. The region has conducted investigations, and so far, no new cases have been identified, even among the contacts. However, we are continuing to monitor for any symptoms. I don’t have the exact number of contacts offhand, but the case was confirmed last week,” he stated.

Contacts of the confirmed case are under surveillance to prevent further transmission of the virus.

Ghana’s first case of MPOX was reported in August in the Western Region, where 25 contacts were identified. Shortly after, the patient’s mother tested positive, bringing the country’s total to two cases as of October 31.

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The World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency in mid-August after a new strain began spreading from the Democratic Republic of Congo to neighboring countries.

“The situation is not yet under control; we are still on an upward trend generally,” Ngashi Ngongo from Africa CDC told a briefing.

Nineteen African countries have reported more than 48,000 suspected mpox cases, including 1,048 deaths so far this year, according to data from the public health agency.

Central Africa, which has been most affected by the outbreak, accounts for 85.7% of cases and 99.5% of deaths on the continent.

The virus can be transmitted through close physical contact, including sexual contact.

Its new strain, known as clade Ib, is also spreading to Europe and has been detected in Sweden, Germany, and Britain.

“We need to continue mobilizing political engagement and also mobilizing the financial support that is critical to get the current outbreak under control,” Ngongo said.

“We do not want this mpox, especially clade Ib, to become another sexually transmitted pandemic, which would be much more severe than COVID-19.”

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The latest case is the mother of a 15-year-old boy who was diagnosed in September. Health officials are now closely monitoring both patients to prevent further spread.

Deputy Director of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Dennis Laryea, assured the public that authorities are taking all necessary steps to contain the virus.

Mpox, also known as Monkeypox, is a viral infection transmitted through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated surfaces. Common symptoms include fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes.

Health officials urge the public to remain vigilant, follow hygiene protocols, and promptly report any suspected symptoms to healthcare providers.

The Ghana Health Service has intensified public awareness efforts and is working with local health facilities to ensure preparedness for potential cases. Additional resources have been mobilized to track other contacts, especially in affected communities.

Source: Adomonline

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This comes a month after the Africa Centers for Disease Control (CDC) declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

Several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, South Africa, and La Côte d’Ivoire, have recorded Mpox cases this year. While Ghana saw 120 cases in 2022 and eight in 2023, this is the first case of the year for the country.

In response, GHS has taken immediate action by issuing alerts to all regions and teaching hospitals. Surveillance for Mpox has been heightened nationwide, and healthcare staff have been sensitized on detection and management.

The mobilization of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers has also been initiated, and strict infection prevention and control measures, including barrier nursing, have been enforced.

Contact tracing and management have started, and the National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) has been activated.

In addition to these measures, the GHS has outlined further steps, which include the activation of Public Health Emergency Management Committees at the national, regional, and district levels.

Continuous sensitization of health staff on Mpox prevention, case management, and precautionary measures will be undertaken.

Detailed outbreak investigations and expanded contact tracing efforts will follow, along with enhanced surveillance, including points of entry and screenings.

Public education campaigns will also be intensified to raise awareness.

The GHS assures the public that Ghana’s healthcare system is equipped to handle the outbreak. Citizens are encouraged to promptly report any suspected symptoms of Mpox to the nearest health facility for appropriate investigation and care.

The World Health Organization declared the recent outbreak of the disease a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant was identified.

Countries in the continent are struggling to respond to another major outbreak coming at the heels of the COVID-19 pandemic that exposed weak health systems that were unprepared to deal with a major public health crisis.

The number of mpox cases in Africa has surged 177%, and deaths have increased 38.5% compared with the same period a year ago, data from the Africa CDC showed.

“We can say today that mpox is not under control in Africa. We still have this increase of cases that is worrying for all of us,” Jean Kaseya, director general of Africa CDC, told a weekly briefing on the outbreak.

In one week 2,912 new cases were reported compared with the previous week including a new country, Morocco, where a case was reported, confirming the spread of the disease in all four regions of the continent.

So far, 15 of the 55 member states of the African Union have reported cases, Africa CDC said.

“We still have people dying from mpox in Africa. In one week, we lost 14 people,” Kaseya added.

He added in some countries, such as Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, two strains of the disease were in circulation, but because surveillance and testing systems were not robust enough, it was impossible to tell if that was the case in other countries.

Kaseya said Rwanda had started its vaccination campaign, while the Democratic Republic of Congo, the epicentre of the outbreak, is set to start vaccinations in early October.

Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said 107 new deaths and 3,160 new cases had been recorded in the past week, just a week after his agency and the U.N. World Health Organization launched a continental response plan.

“In the one week, we lost 107 (people). It’s too much. It’s not acceptable.” he said as he emphasized the need for stronger cross-border surveillance.

Mpox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox but causes milder symptoms like fever, chills and body aches. People with more serious cases can develop lesions on the face, hands, chest and genitals.

In testing for the disease, men recorded the highest positivity rate at 63%, while children under the age of 15 were at 41%.

Kaseya said there was need for increased testing and resources to support it, adding that the continent was not testing enough and that it “cannot rely on only confirmed cases for decision-making and response.”

Mpox can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, and Kaseya said more research is needed to determine how common this is.

The number of cases has been rising rapidly, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said last month, but until recently there have been relatively few deaths. The increased number of cases come a month after WHO declared outbreaks in 12 African countries a global emergency.

The estimated budget for the six-month plan put forward by Africa CDC and WHO is almost $600 million, with 55% allocated to the response to mpox in 14 affected nations and boosting readiness in 15 others.

Some African Union member states have already contributed to the response plan budget, a step that Kaseya lauded as showing ownership by the continent.

Africa is in the process of receiving vaccines. Some 250,000 doses have already been delivered to Congo, but these are just a fraction of the 3 million doses authorities have said are needed to end the outbreak there, the epicenter of the global health emergency.

EU countries pledged to donate more than 500,000 doses, but the timeline for delivery remained unclear.

The recommended course of vaccination requires two doses. Kaseya said this would still be ideal despite the high level of need, because “we don’t want to compromise on protection of our people.”

The director-general said he would be travelling to Congo to get vaccinated when the exercise kicks off in the first week of October “to show the African people and Congolese people that the vaccine is safe.”

Africa CDC has so far recorded 5,731 confirmed mpox cases and 724 associated deaths since the beginning of the year.

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Mpox is “not the new Covid”, because authorities clearly know how to control its spread, a leading World Health Organization expert has said.

Despite real concern about a new variant of the virus, and a global alert, Europe regional director Dr Hans Kluge told journalists, together we could – and must – tackle mpox.

And strong action now – including ensuring vaccines reach the areas most in need – could stop another cycle of panic and neglect.

A case of the new variant, Clade Ib, was confirmed in Sweden last week and linked to a growing outbreak in Africa.

The Africa Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday declared a public health emergency over the growing Mpox outbreak on the African continent.

The outbreak has swept through several African countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The latest country to record Mpox is Sweden in Europe and Pakistan in South East Asia.

There is a serious and growing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has now expanded outside the country.

A new viral strain, which first emerged in September 2023, has for the first time been detected outside DRC.

So far, about 2,863 confirmed mpox cases and 517 deaths across 13 African countries have been reported in 2024 alone.

“In Nigeria, cumulatively, a total of 39 confirmed cases and zero deaths have been recorded across 33 States + FCT, from the beginning of the year 2024. Bayelsa (five), Cross River (five), Ogun (four), Lagos (four), Ondo (three), and Ebonyi (three) lead the pack.

“Noting the significant concern of the ease of cross-border transmission, this press conference is part of the effort to intensify our coordination and communication with stakeholders to manage the spread of the virus and prevent disease importation,” Idris said.

Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic infectious disease (i.e., disease of animals transmitted from animals to humans) that is endemic in several African countries including the tropical rainforests of Central and West Africa. The exact reservoir of the virus is still unknown although rodents, squirrels, and monkeys are suspected to play a part in transmission.

The Mpox virus can spread both from animal to human and from human to human. Animal-to-human transmission may occur by direct contact with the blood, body fluids, skin, or mucosal lesions of infected animals (e.g., monkeys, squirrels, and rodents). This can happen through a bite, scratch, handling of, or eating inadequately cooked or other products of infected bushmeat. Human-to-human (person-to-person) transmission occurs when a person comes into contact with the virus from an infected human, or materials contaminated with the virus such as clothing, or bedding.

Symptoms of the illness include fever, headache, body aches, weakness, swollen lymph nodes (glands), and a rash. After about one to three days of fever, the rash erupts, beginning on the face and then spreading to the body with the face and palms/soles being mostly affected. They can also occur in and around the genitals which is why contact during sex is another mode of transmission.

The NCDC DG noted that the National Mpox Technical Working Group, a multi-sectoral body housed within the NCDC, continues to coordinate Mpox response activities.

“As part of the government’s ongoing efforts, we have intensified surveillance across Nigeria to swiftly detect and respond to any new cases. This puts all port health services across all five international airports, 10 seaports, and 51 land/foot crossing borders on high alert. Diagnostic protocols according to the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response are now distributed to these locations and port health officers are on high alert and screening for suspected cases.

Sweden confirms first case of mpox strain

Swedish officials say they have registered the first case outside Africa of the more dangerous variant of mpox.

Sweden says it has confirmed a first case of mpox clade I, a viral infection that spreads through close contact and is a more dangerous variant of the mpox disease.

The Swedish government made the announcement on Thursday, marking the first case of the variant outside of Africa, adding that more cases are expected in the region in the coming days.

“We have now also during the afternoon had confirmation that we have one case in Sweden of the more grave type of mpox, the one called clade I,” Health and Social Affairs Minister Jakob Forssmed told a news conference on Thursday.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to other countries.

Neither the US nor Canada have identified any cases thus far. Sweden’s public health agency said in its statement on Thursday that “occasional imported cases like the current one may continue to occur” in coming days and weeks.

Swedish state epidemiologist Magnus Gisslen said in a statement that the person became infected during a trip to “the part of Africa where there is a major outbreak of mpox clade I” and that they have “received care” after seeking medical assistance in Stockholm.

“The fact that a patient with mpox is treated in the country does not affect the risk to the general population, a risk that the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) currently considers very low,” Gisslen added.

The WHO on Wednesday said 548 people have been killed by mpox in the DRC this year, and declared a global public health emergency following the outbreak of mpox in several neighbouring countries.

The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also declared mpox a public health emergency on the continent on Tuesday.

“On top of outbreaks of other mpox clades in DRC and other countries in Africa, it’s clear that a coordinated international response is needed to stop these outbreaks and save lives,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a social media post on Wednesday.

Mpox virus detected in Pakistan, health authorities say

Pakistan’s health ministry has confirmed at least one case of the mpox virus in a patient who had returned from a Gulf country, it said on Friday, though they did not yet know the strain of the virus.

A health ministry spokesperson said the sequencing of the confirmed case was underway, and that it would not be clear which variant of mpox the patient had until the process was complete.

A new form of the virus has triggered global concern because it seems to spread more easily though routine close contact.

A case of the new variant was confirmed on Thursday in Sweden and linked to a growing outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent.

However, the World Health Organization has advised against any travel restrictions to stop the spread of mpox.

The health department in the northern Khyber Pakhtunkwa province said on Friday one mpox case had been confirmed in the area, withdrawing a previous statement that three mpox patients had been detected there this week on arrival from the United Arab Emirates.

A health officer in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan district said the location of the confirmed mpox patient, a man the officer said had recently returned from Saudi Arabia, was unknown.

He had initially received tests and advice at a hospital in the provincial capital Peshawar, Dr Javed Iqbal told Reuters, but later returned to his home a few hours away in Mardan and then went to another district.

“When we visited his home in Mardan, it was locked from outside and his neighbours told us that the family has left for Dir,” said the DHO Mardan.

“We approached our fellow colleagues of the health department in Dir district, but they couldn’t trace him even in Dir.”

The national health ministry said it was carrying out contact tracing of the patient it had identified, who they said was from Mardan. They were also boosting airport surveillance and monitoring with extra health personnel, the ministry said in a statement.

The WHO declared the recent outbreak of the disease as a public health emergency of international concern after the new variant of the virus was identified.

Health ministry spokesperson Sajid Shah said so far they had no confirmation of the new variant, but the sequencing of the sample of the confirmed patient was underway.

“Once that’s done, we will be able to say what strain is this,” said Shah.

Global health officials on Thursday confirmed an infection with a new strain of the mpox virus in Sweden and linked it to a growing outbreak in Africa, the first sign of its spread outside the continent.

The WHO on Wednesday sounded its highest level of alert over the outbreak in Africa after cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to nearby countries.

There have been 27,000 cases and more than 1,100 deaths, mainly among children, in Congo since the current outbreak began in January 2023.

The disease, caused by the monkeypox virus, leads to flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions.

It is usually mild but can kill, with children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, all at higher risk of complications.

Source: GraphicOnline

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The outbreak, primarily affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), has recorded over 14,000 cases this year.

Since 2023, the DRC has reported about 12,600 suspected cases and 580 deaths, a sharp rise from previous years, according to the CDC.

The WHO originally declared mpox a “public health emergency of international concern” (PHEIC) on 23 July 2022, which lasted until May 2023 by which time cases had been brought under control. The last time it made such a declaration was in January 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To date, more than 16,000 cases have been reported in more than 75 countries and the number of confirmed infections has risen 77% from late June through early July, according to WHO and UN data.

The World Economic Forum’s Head of Health and Healthcare, Shyam Bishen, says, “With this declaration, countries will need to invest significant resources in controlling this outbreak.”

He adds, “Fortunately, vaccines and drugs developed for smallpox may work well against monkeypox. But there is a very limited supply. While we encourage nations to share vaccines, treatments and other key resources for containing the outbreak, we believe a multistakeholder partnership is necessary among the private sector, governments, and international organizations to quickly scale up vaccine and treatment production for this disease.”

Europe was the epicentre of the first mpox outbreak, reporting more than 80% of cases worldwide in 2022. There have been no deaths reported from the virus outside of Africa, where there have been five to date.

While considered high in Europe, the global risk remains moderate and is unlikely to disrupt travel or trade.

The virus was discovered in 1970 and previous cases had been mainly in Africa. Cases outside of Africa have historically been rare, traced back to infected travellers or imported animals.

Here’s what you need to know about monkeypox and how public health authorities worldwide are responding.

What is monkeypox?

The monkeypox virus is a type of orthopoxvirus, in the same family of viruses that causes smallpox. The symptoms of monkeypox are similar – though less severe and less contagious – to smallpox.

There are two identified genetic clades – or groups – of the virus: the Congo Basin clade and the West African clade. The Congo Basin clade typically causes a more severe version of the disease and was thought to be more transmissible. Cases recently identified have been in the West African clade.

How does monkeypox spread?

Monkeypox is classified as a zoonosis, which means a disease that is transmitted between humans and animals. Cases often appear in tropical climates and rainforests where animals are carrying the virus, including types of squirrels, dormice and certain types of monkeys and rats. The disease is transmitted through bites, scratches or bush meat preparation.

Human-to-human transmission is limited and the virus is transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids or skin lesions as well as indirect contact with lesion materials through items such as contaminated bedding or clothing. It can also spread through respiratory droplets but does not travel easily by air and requires direct, prolonged contact with someone who has an active rash.

What are the symptoms?

Monkeypox usually presents with a fever, rash and swollen lymph nodes. Early stages (1-3 days) involve headache and backache, sore muscles and lack of energy. Individuals with the infection will also often develop a rash 1-5 days from the onset of symptoms, starting as raised spots before turning into fluid-filled blisters, which ultimately turn into scabs and fall off.

What is the prognosis?

Monkeypox symptoms usually clear within 2-4 weeks without treatment. In recent times, the mortality rate has been between 3-6%, mostly among young children and immunocompromised individuals.

The cases diagnosed to date have been mild.

How is monkeypox being diagnosed?

All individuals who have tested positive have had the infection confirmed by a PCR test. Genomic sequencing was also used to confirm a case in Portugal.

How is it treated?

There is currently no medication for the monkeypox virus itself. However, the antiviral drugs cidofovir, brincidofovir and tecovirimat may be used.

The WHO is currently convening experts to discuss recommendations on vaccination.

How are public health authorities responding?

According to the WHO, health authorities are responding through the following measures:

• Ongoing public health investigations in non-endemic countries that have identified cases, including contact tracing, lab investigation, clinical management and isolation with supportive care.
• Genomic sequencing, where available, has determined the monkeypox virus clade(s) infecting individuals. Scientists are working to determine if the recent infections in Europe are related to strains in Africa.
• Vaccination for monkeypox, where available, is being deployed to manage close contacts, such as health workers.
• Robust surveillance, contact tracing and infection prevention and control: Strong surveillance and diagnostic systems, partnered with swift information-sharing, has ensured that health authorities can rapidly report and communicate on the outbreak.
• The WHO has also released emergency funds to countries with limited testing capabilities and supplies to establish monkeypox virus identification and sequencing.

Shyam Bishen explains, “The availability of a vaccine is encouraging news in the fight against monkeypox, but as with Covid-19, equitable distribution and access to vaccines will be a key challenge globally, due to uneven rollouts and uptake rates between high-income and low-and-middle-income countries.

“To counter this challenge, the World Economic Forum – in partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the US National Academy of Medicine – has launched the Distributed Vaccine Manufacturing Collaborative. The Collaborative addresses inequitable vaccine access by supporting the establishment of a sustainable and robust global network of versatile vaccine manufacturing facilities capable of producing vaccines to protect individuals in pandemic and non-pandemic times.”

Source: World Economic Forum

The move forms part of heightened surveillance in the wake of the outbreak of the Mpox disease in some 15 African countries.

The Director of Public Health at GHS, Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe who disclosed this on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Thursday asked Ghanaians to be cautious.

He, however, did not mention whether it will be at a fee or free.

“The travellers will undergo screening for us to know they don’t have Mpox at the borders, land, sea and the airports. There will be guidelines at the hospitals for the doctors to know how to handle such cases. So we have an updated national plan,” he said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the disease a global health emergency after it confirmed a total of 2030 cases and 13 deaths this year, compared with 1145 cases and seven deaths in the whole of 2023.

Four countries – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda – previously unaffected by Mpox have reported cases since mid-July 2024.

Although the disease is rare, it can be deadly.

On the back of this, Dr Bekoe said GHS will immediately begin awareness and sensitisation.

“We will start making pictures to educate people and we will once again begin training and orientation for our staff. Early detection is important and thankfully, we have the reference laboratory and Noguchi to help with testing and confirmation of cases,” he added.

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WHO convened its emergency mpox committee amid concerns that a deadlier strain of the virus, clade Ib, had reached four previously unaffected provinces in Africa.

This strain had previously been contained to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Independent experts on the committee met virtually Wednesday to advise WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the severity of the outbreak.

After that consultation, he announced Wednesday that he had declared a public health emergency of international concern — the highest level of alarm under international health law.

Also known as PHEIC, this is a status given by WHO to “extraordinary events” that pose a public health risk to other countries through the international spread of disease.

These outbreaks may require a coordinated international response, according to the organization.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared the outbreak a public health emergency of continental security the day before — the first such declaration by the agency since its inception in 2017.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 17,000 cases and more than 500 deaths have been reported in 13 countries in Africa, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which classifies the outbreak as a “very high risk event.”

The highest number of cases — more than 14,000 — is in the DRC, which reported 96% of confirmed cases this month.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral disease that can spread easily between people and from infected animals.

It can spread through close contact such as touching, kissing or sex, as well as through contaminated materials like sheets, clothing and needles, according to WHO.

Symptoms include a fever, a painful rash, headache, muscle and back pain, low energy and enlarged lymph nodes.

For decades, the disease had largely been found in Central and West Africa, but it also began spreading in Europe and North America in 2022.

WHO previously declared the spread of mpox a global health emergency in July 2022 and ended it in May 2023.

Mpox is characterized by two genetic clades, I and II. A clade is a broad grouping of viruses that has evolved over decades and is a genetic and clinically distinct group. Clade Ib is more transmissible and causes more severe disease.

WHO officials previously said the virus could be contained “quite straightforwardly, if we do the right things at the right time.”

They are further calling for international cooperation in financing and organizing efforts to quell the outbreak.

The organization has already signed off on the Emergency Use Listing process for both mpox vaccines and developed a regional response plan requiring $15 million, with $1.45 million already released from the WHO Contingency Fund for Emergencies.

Source: CNN

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The virus has been spreading to countries that were previously unaffected, prompting concern across the continent.

According to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO), 15 African countries are currently experiencing outbreaks, with 2,030 confirmed cases and 13 deaths reported so far this year.

Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, emphasized the importance of raising public awareness about the virus.

“We should create the awareness so that when you have rashes on your body, you don’t assume that it is chickenpox; you have to go to the health facility for samples to be taken and we will confirm,” he stated.

Dr Bekoe noted that the Mpox cases currently recorded in Ghana are not severe and are manageable.

He also mentioned that the Ghana Health Service will work on improving coordination between the African region and the country level to better handle the outbreak.

Source: Myjoyonline

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The virus, which can cause lesions across the whole body, is making some people very ill and can be deadly.

The current outbreak has been driven by sexual transmission but there is evidence this strain can also be passed on through close skin-to-skin contact.

Global health experts say the new variant risks cross-border and international spread of the virus, with one calling it the “most dangerous strain yet”.

A worldwide epidemic of mpox in 2022 was brought under control by vaccinating vulnerable groups.

But there is poor access to vaccines and treatments in DR Congo and local health officials are warning the virus could reach other countries.

“The disease can go through airports. A person with lesions can go through borders because there are no controls,” said Leandre Murhula Masirika, at the health department in South Kivu province – one of the worst affected areas in DR Congo.

“I’m very afraid it’s going to cause more damage.”

‘Risk of spread’

Cases of mpox, formerly called monkeypox, have been on the rise in the African country for decades.

Official figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) show there have been nearly 8,000 cases this year in DR Congo, including 384 deaths – almost half of these among children under 15.

An outbreak in South Kivu province, near the border with Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, is causing particular concern.

Lab testing of virus samples from the area recently found the new mpox strain, which contains mutations that appear to help it circulate among humans.

In the mining town of Kamituga, where the strain is thought to have originated among sex workers in September 2023, cases are rising. Those now being infected include schoolchildren, healthcare workers treating mpox patients and entire households.

The new strain has been detected in several cities along the border, including Goma, which borders Rwanda.

The WHO said it represented “a renewed risk of cross-border and international spread which may potentially lead to an increased risk of severe illness”.

Scientists briefing journalists about the current outbreak said they feared the new strain was being spread more easily, causing more serious disease and more deaths in children and adults.

There is also concern over the risk of asymptomatic spread between people who do not have symptoms and are unaware they have the virus.

The current case figures are “the tip of the iceberg”, said Prof Trudie Lang, professor of global health research at the University of Oxford.

“It’s definitely the most dangerous strain yet.

“We don’t know how many non-severe cases are hidden.”

It is also not clear how fast the new strain spreads or whether current vaccines will protect against it. Trials will be needed to work this out, which will take time.

The global outbreak of mpox that spread across Europe and America in 2022 was sexually transmitted and driven by men who have sex with men. It was caused by the Clade II mpox virus.

The new strain is from the more deadly Clade I but is distinct from other outbreaks which have previously affected the region. It can also be spread through non-sexual contact, which makes it more dangerous.

Many children have been infected, including newborn babies during pregnancy.

There have been reports of a few infected pregnant women miscarrying their babies.

And some patients have been left with long-term complications with their eyes, skin and genitals.

One healthcare worker looking after an infected patient is reported to have lost her sight after becoming infected herself.

In cases in DR Congo to date, the new strain has a mortality rate of 4% in adults and 10% in children.

Poor access to vaccines

John Claude Udahemuka, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda who is monitoring the eastern DR Congo outbreak, said the first person with the new strain was likely to have been a man who had sex with a woman in Kamituga and then with other women in several different locations.

The South Kivu health department’s Mr Masirika said: “If we can vaccinate sex workers plus health workers, I think cases can be reduced.”

African researchers have called for urgent action to improve research into the mpox virus and speed up the distribution of vaccines.

Earlier this month, the WHO said the continuing development of the mpox outbreak in DR Congo was “concerning”.

It pointed to limited public awareness of mpox, a lack of treatment kits and vaccines and the country’s many other health priorities as factors in the appearance of a new strain.

The risk associated with mpox in DR Congo “remains high”, it said.

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