The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it has recorded one more case of MPOX from the Western North region, bringing to two, the number of confirmed cases.
The additional case is the mother of the first confirmed case; a 15-year-old male who reported at a local district government hospital on 25th September 2024 with a 3-day history of fever, general body pains, sore throat and rash which was initially in the palm and face but spread to the trunk and extremities.
Dr Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the GHS said, the service had identified 32 persons who had come into contact with the infected persons through contact tracing.
He said the GHS was following up with the contacts and would monitor them for the next 21 days.
He said MPOX was a disease of contact, and advised the public to avoid touching, holding, kissing or sleeping on the same bed with an infected persons or people with rashes on their skin.
The Director for Public Health said although the disease was not fatal, fewer persons might die from infections and complications of MPOX.
He said presently, the GHS had activated its surveillance systems to ensure the early detection of the disease across the country.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) MPOX Disease Situational Report (SITREP) on October 2, indicates that on the 1st of October 2024, the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) confirmed a case of Mpox following laboratory testing.
The SITREP said there was no history of travel over the past 21 days or history of sexual exposure to a potentially infectious person.
It said the Western North Regional Health Directorate and the Bia West district had activated public health emergency management structures and initiated response measures.
It said no death had been reported among suspected or confirmed cases so far.
Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, a species of the genus Orthopoxvirus.
Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.
It spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has mpox, including members of a household. Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing), and it can also include being face-to-face with someone who has mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infectious respiratory particles).
People with multiple sexual partners are at higher risk of acquiring mpox.
Common symptoms of mpox are a skin rash or mucosal lesions which can last 2–4 weeks accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.
During pregnancy, the virus may be passed to the fetus, or to the newborn during or after birth.
Mpox is treated with supportive care for symptoms such as pain and fever, with close attention to nutrition, hydration, skin care, prevention of secondary infections and treatment of co-infections, including HIV where present.
GNA