Ghana’s health authorities have reported the country’s first Monkeypox case of the year, though the specific strain involved is still being investigated.
The patient, a young man from the Western North Region, located about 475 kilometers from Accra, is showing typical symptoms such as fever, rash, and body pain. He has been isolated according to established health guidelines.
Health officials have identified 25 individuals who had contact with the patient and are now under close monitoring. In addition to this confirmed case, around 230 other suspected infections are under review.
Previous cases of monkeypox were documented in Ghana during 2022 and 2023. Experts are now working to determine whether this new case involves the more transmissible clade Ib strain, which spreads primarily through close physical contact, including sexual transmission.
This variant has been identified as a growing concern internationally, distinct from the clade I strain more common in parts of West and Central Africa.
The World Health Organization declared monkeypox a public health emergency for the second time in August, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has spread to other countries in the region.
Across Africa, nearly 30,000 suspected cases have been recorded this year, with fatalities surpassing 800.
Nigeria, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire are among the countries facing ongoing outbreaks. Globally, August 2024 saw a significant surge, with 2,082 confirmed cases reported—the highest monthly count since November 2022.
In response to the outbreak, the Gavi vaccine alliance has partnered with Bavarian Nordic to secure 500,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine for African nations. The Democratic Republic of Congo received its first batch of 200,000 doses last month, aiming to curb the virus’s spread.
Source: rfi
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