Ghana Confirms 5 Cases Of Monkeypox
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced Ghana has recorded five confirmed cases of Monkeypox.
Speaking at a presser, the Director General of the GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye said the five cases came positive out of a total of twelve suspected cases of Monkeypox tested since May 24, 2022.
The cases have been recorded in three of Ghana’s sixteen regions including Eastern, Western and Greater Accra.
One of the infected persons is said to have a recent travel record to the United States of America.
Dr Kuma Aboagye noted that no death has been recorded so far.
Monkeypox virus is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. The incubation period of monkeypox is usually from 6 to 13 days but can range from 5 to 21 days.
Various animal species have been identified as susceptible to the monkeypox virus. Uncertainty remains on the natural history of the monkeypox virus and further studies are needed to identify the exact reservoir(s) and how virus circulation is maintained in nature. Eating inadequately cooked meat and other animal products of infected animals is a possible risk factor.
Monkeypox is usually self-limiting but may be severe in some individuals, such as children, pregnant women or persons with immunosuppression due to other health conditions. Human infections with the West African clade appear to cause less severe disease compared to the Congo Basin clade, with a case fatality rate of 3.6% compared to 10.6% for the Congo Basin clade.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
