Ghana has recorded five cases of monkeypox in the Eastern, Western and Greater Accra regions.
Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye made the announcement at a press briefing on Wednesday, June 8. He revealed that “one of the cases was recorded in a Ghanaian who travelled from the United States of America to Ghana”.
It was also disclosed that 12-suspected cases have been investigated since May 24, 2022. According to Dr Kuma Aboagye, there is currently no treatment for Monkey Pox.
However, he said there is a vaccine available but not in Ghana. “But I don’t think we have reached a stage where we will call for vaccination in Ghana,” he said.
He further noted that the cases being recorded were mild to moderate.
Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the same family of viruses as smallpox. It spreads through respiratory droplets or by contact with fluid from skin sores. Anyone who has been diagnosed with monkeypox, or who suspects they might have it, should avoid close contact with others.
Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. The main difference between symptoms of smallpox and monkeypox is that monkeypox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) while smallpox does not.
