Ghana is battling three outbreaks – GHS announces

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has indicated that the country is currently battling three diseases.

Director-General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, during a press conference on Wednesday, June 8, revealed the three as Covid-19, Influenza A(H3) and Monkeypox.

Covid-19

Covid-19 was first recorded in March 2020 and since then the government has been battling the pandemic. About three to four months ago, the country recorded low cases of the virus.

But recently, the GHS has seen a surge in the number of cases. Over the last month, Dr Kuma-Aboagye said there has been a gradual increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in Accra.

Active cases as of June 6, stood at 452. No critical or severe cases have been recorded. 

The GHS has recorded 1,445 related deaths since the emergence of the virus in 2020. Since March, according to the GHS, no deaths have been recorded.

The Service believes this is due to the efficacy of the Covid-19 vaccines.

Ghana’s total confirmed cases is 162,002. According to the Service, 160,105 who fell prey to the virus have recovered.

Influenza A(H3)

The country recorded its first case of Influenza A(H3) in January in the Eastern Region.

In April, there was a surge in the number of cases. So far, 773 Influenza A(H3) cases have been recorded. 

The Eastern Region recorded 33.1%, Greater Accra (29.5%) and Volta (11.9%) of the confirmed cases. 

The Upper East, Upper West and North East Regions have not recorded any cases. 

Pandemic Influenza H1N1 and the H3N2 are among sub-types of the Influenza.

Monkeypox

According to the Ghana Health Service, Ghana has recorded five cases of the monkeypox virus.

These cases were confirmed in the Eastern, Western and Greater Accra regions.

The GHS Director-General noted that the cases were identified through the testing of 12 suspected cases, including one case that was reported from the Western Region.

The virus can be transmitted from person to person through direct contact with body fluid or monkeypox lesions.

Persons who contract the virus are said to be subjected to the following symptoms; fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, muscle and back aches.

Persons could also suffer general bodily weakness and rash with blisters on face, hands, feet, body, eyes, mouth or genitals.

How to prevent catching any of the diseases

The Ghana Health Service has admonished citizens to observe social distancing, wearing of nose masks, washing of hands regularly and using of sanitizers.

Citizens have also been entreated to avail themselves for Covid-19 jabs. The GHS says booster shots will enable one to be immune to the Covid-19 virus.

Source: The Independent Ghana