By Francis Kobena Tandoh
Ghana has confirmed 34 new cases of Mpox, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) confirmed Tuesday.
This brings total confirmed cases in the West African country to 79, with four currently on admission, while none of the affected have succumbed to death so far.
The recent upsurge in Mpox cases, the health service observed, is due to increased surveillance measures put in place, including contact tracing, continuous public sensitization, and detecting and isolating cases faster.
The Ghana Health Service is emphasizing the importance of hygiene and avoiding close contact with symptomatic individuals to curb the spread of the virus.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Mpox is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV).
It is an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia, and other viruses.
Mpox spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has the disease, including members of a household. Humans can also contract it from infected animals through bites or scratches or during activities such as hunting, skinning, trapping, cooking, playing with carcasses, or eating animals.
The disease can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain, and low energy.
A global outbreak began in 2022 and continues to this day, including in some African countries. There are also growing outbreaks affecting the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other countries in West Africa.
The World Health Organization has extended the health emergency for Mpox, highlighting the ongoing risk of the virus spreading in West Africa and beyond. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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