The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed the country’s first case of MPOX in 2024, involving a 15-year-old boy from the Western North Region. According to a Disease Situational Report (SITREP) dated October 2, 2024, the National Public Health and Reference Laboratory (NPHRL) confirmed the case on October 1, 2024, following laboratory tests.
Patient presentation and health status
The young patient was first admitted to a district government hospital on September 25, 2024, after experiencing fever, body aches, sore throat, and a rash for three days.
The rash initially appeared on the palms and face, spreading to the trunk and extremities.
Notably, there was no history of recent travel or known exposure to an infectious individual in the past 21 days.
The patient has since been discharged and is in stable condition at home.
Public health response activated
In response to the confirmed case, public health authorities in the Western North Regional Health Directorate and Bia West District have activated emergency protocols.
A total of 15 healthcare facilities and 10 community contacts have been identified and are currently being monitored.
The report emphasizes that public health teams are working to contain the spread through contact tracing and isolation measures.
National overview of MPOX suspected cases
The SITREP reveals that as of September 29, 2024, Ghana has recorded 230 suspected MPOX cases across 88 districts in all 16 regions.
The Greater Accra Region leads with 87 suspected cases, followed by the Central Region with 26 cases. Both the Ashanti and Volta Regions have reported 20 cases each.
Despite the large number of suspected cases, no deaths have been reported so far among confirmed or suspected cases.
Challenges in managing the outbreak
The report highlights significant challenges faced by the country, particularly in sustaining laboratory testing and conducting thorough outbreak investigations due to limited funding. Transportation of samples from hard-to-reach areas, such as the affected district, remains a major obstacle.
The GHS has called for additional social support for individuals in community isolation and noted that Ghana has notified the World Health Organization (WHO) in accordance with International Health Regulation (IHR) guidelines.
As Ghana grapples with these constraints, it will be crucial for the government and international partners to mobilize resources to effectively manage and contain the outbreak.
