Ghana has recorded five cases of Monkeypox out of the 12 suspected cases tested.
The Eastern region is part of three regions – Western and Greater Accra regions that have recorded Monkeypox cases.
The Director-General of Ghana Health Service, Patrick Kuma Aboagye, speaking at a press conference Wednesday, June 8, 2022, on COVID-19, Influenza A H3, and monkeypox cases in the country said
“So far since the outbreak in Europe occurred, we tested 12 suspected cases in Ghana since 24 May. Currently, we have confirmed five cases in three regions – Eastern, Western, and Greater Accra – this is where we discovered the five cases, no death has occurred among the cases here,” he said.
“One of the cases has been recorded in a Ghanaian who traveled to the US from Ghana, he might have picked it from here,” the GHS boss said.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Monkeypox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the Monkeypox virus. Monkeypox virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus.
Monkeypox was first discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in colonies of monkeys kept for research, hence the name ‘Monkeypox.’ The first human case of Monkeypox was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then, Monkeypox has been reported in people in several other central and western African countries: Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone. The majority of infections are in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Monkeypox cases in people have occurred outside of Africa linked to international travel or imported animals, including cases in the United States, as well as Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
The natural reservoir of Monkeypox remains unknown. However, African rodents and non-human primates (like monkeys) may harbor the virus and infect people.
The disease is fatal if not detected early for management.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
