Ghana records first Mpox d£ath
Mpox
Ghana has recorded its first d£ath from Mpox, health authorities confirmed on Sunday, as the country battles a sharp surge in new infections. The West African nation reported 23 new cases in the past week, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 257 since the virus was first detected in the country in June 2022.
The recent spike marks the highest weekly increase since the outbreak began and includes Ghana’s first fatality linked to the disease.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh assured the public that “the situation is under control,” emphasizing the importance of early detection and public responsibility.
“The key to limiting this outbreak is early detection and responsible behaviour,” Akandoh told AFP.
Mpox — formerly known as Monkeypox — is a viral infection closely related to smallpox. It causes symptoms such as fever, body aches, and characteristic skin lesions, and it can be fatal in some cases. The virus spreads primarily through close physical contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects.
In response to the growing threat, the Ghana Health Service is set to receive Mpox vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) this week.
“Our at-risk populations have already been identified, and we are ready to roll out vaccination as soon as doses arrive,” said Dr. Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, a senior official with the agency.
The outbreak in Ghana reflects a broader public health crisis across West Africa, where countries are struggling to contain rising case numbers. Sierra Leone alone has recorded 3,350 cases and 16 deaths between January and late May 2025.
Elsewhere on the continent, thousands of cases have been reported this year in Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi, according to WHO data.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported last week that over 47,000 confirmed Mpox cases and 221 deaths have occurred across the continent since January 2024. Alarmingly, more than 27,000 of those infections were recorded this year alone.
Last month, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reaffirmed that Mpox remains an international health emergency, citing the escalating outbreaks in West Africa.
AFP
