Unfortunately enough, Ghana has confirmed its first Mpox case of 2024, as health authorities continue to monitor the spread of the virus across Africa.
The patient, a young boy from the Western North Region, located approximately 475 kilometers (295 miles) from the capital city Accra, exhibited symptoms including a rash, fever, and body pains, according to Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
The boy has since been discharged and is in stable condition. However, authorities are closely monitoring 25 individuals who were in contact with him.
“The suspected case of Mpox was isolated in line with protocols for managing Mpox,” Kuma-Aboagye said.
He reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm, stating, “The public health emergency systems are activated and are working to contain the situation.”
Additionally, about 230 other suspected cases are currently under investigation in Ghana, according to sources from the GHS.
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The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has expressed concern about the virus’ continued spread.
Jean Kaseya, head of Africa CDC, highlighted the gravity of the outbreak during a press briefing, stating, “More than 860 people have died from some 34,297 cases recorded across Africa since January.”
Kaseya also confirmed that Ghana had reported 38 Mpox cases this week alone.
Mpox, a viral disease related to smallpox, comes in two subtypes: clade 1 and clade 2. The more lethal clade 1 has been endemic in the Congo Basin for decades, while clade 2 is less severe but found in West Africa.
Ghana has yet to confirm which clade was detected in this recent case.
The country recorded eight cases in 2023 and 120 in 2022.
Several other African nations, including Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, and Ivory Coast, have also reported Mpox cases this year. In response to the escalating crisis, the Africa CDC declared Mpox a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) in August 2024.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously classified the virus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
Mpox typically spreads from animals to humans but can also transmit between people through close contact.
Symptoms include fever, body aches, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash that eventually develops into blisters.
A new strain, clade 1b, was first detected among sex workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in September 2023.
Health authorities in Ghana continue to urge vigilance as they work to contain the spread of the virus and ensure public safety.