Ghana Reports First Mpox Death

Ghana has confirmed its first death from Mpox, as health authorities report a significant surge in infections across the West African nation.

The fatality comes amid the highest weekly rise in cases since the virus was first detected in Ghana in June 2022.

In the past week alone, 23 new infections have been recorded, bringing the country’s total number of cases to 257.

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The Ghanaian health minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, sought to reassure the public, telling AFP that “the situation is under control.”

He emphasised the importance of “early detection and responsible behaviour” in curbing the outbreak.

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a viral illness related to smallpox. It causes symptoms such as fever, body aches, and distinctive skin lesions and can be fatal in some cases. The virus spreads through close contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects.

Health Workers in Sierra Leone Face Rising Mpox Infections

To address the growing threat, Ghana’s public health service is preparing to roll out vaccinations. Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, a director within the service, said the country expects to receive vaccine doses from the World Health Organisation (WHO) this week.

“Our at-risk populations have already been identified, and we are ready to roll out vaccination as soon as doses arrive,” he said.

Ghana’s surge in Mpox cases reflects a wider crisis across West Africa. Sierra Leone has reported 3,350 cases and 16 deaths from January to late May this year. Thousands more infections have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi.

According to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), more than 47,000 confirmed cases and 221 deaths have been reported across the continent since January 2024. Of these, over 27,000 have occurred this year alone.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently warned that Mpox remains a global public health emergency, citing the continued rise in cases across West Africa as a major concern.

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