Govt Declares Yellow Fever Outbreak In Upper West Region, 3 Confirmed Dead
The Ministry of Health has declared a Yellow Fever outbreak in some affected districts in the Upper West Region after laboratory investigations confirmed three cases, all of which resulted in deaths.
In a press release issued by the Minister for Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ministry said it is working through the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to contain the situation.
According to the Ministry, reports of suspected cases presenting with fever, jaundice and bleeding were received from September 9, 2026, in Sissala West and Wa West districts.
Through its surveillance system, the GHS initiated a public health investigation with samples initially tested in-country, while further testing at the WHO-accredited laboratory in Dakar, Senegal (Institut Pasteur), confirmed three cases of yellow fever.
The Ministry said all three cases resulted in deaths despite aggressive management by health staff in those facilities.
In line with the International Health Regulations (2005) and the National Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), the Minister for Health has officially declared a Yellow Fever outbreak in the affected districts in the Upper West Region.
Response
On response measures, the Ministry said it has activated the National and Regional Public Health Emergency Operations Centres and deployed Rapid Response Teams to affected communities for case finding, surveillance and risk communication.
It is also preparing for a targeted emergency vaccination campaign in affected and at-risk districts, including Wa West, Sissala West and Sissala East, this month of October, while promoting the use of insecticide repellents and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets during the day.
The Ministry added that case management at designated health facilities is being strengthened, with heightened surveillance across the region and intensified risk communication and community engagement activities.
The Ministry advised the public that Yellow Fever is a viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes that bite mostly during the day.
It urged the public to report to the nearest health facility immediately if they experience sudden fever, headache, muscle pain, yellowing of the eyes or skin, or unusual bleeding.
It also urged the public to eliminate stagnant water around homes, use insecticide-treated nets and mosquito repellents, avoid self-medication and rely only on official communication from the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.
The Ministry further called on traditional and religious leaders, the media, civil society and all citizens to support the national response, assuring that Government remains committed to protecting the health and wellbeing of every person in Ghana and will provide regular updates, including when vaccination will be carried out in the affected districts, as the situation evolves.
Click to read more: https://opemsuo.com/author/hajara-fuseini/
