UER:Monkepox kills one person in Bolgatanga

The Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region has recorded one death as a result of monkeypox, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed.

A total of 13 persons who are believed to have come into contact with the deceased are being monitored by the GHS, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi.

Dr Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi noted that the confirmed case was identified after a probe of three suspected Monkeypox cases on July 22, 2022.

“This is the first confirmed case in the region. The confirmed case was seen on the 22nd of July, 2022 at the Upper East Regional Hospital, with a history of fever and skin rash. Unfortunately, the [person] died on 26th July 2022,” he said.

“Samples were taken on the 22nd of July 2022 for confirmation at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra. We received feedback on the 28th of July, 2022 indicating the sample tested positive for the Monkeypox disease.”

Dr Dzotsi said 13 persons who came into contact with the victim are currently being monitored but added that no additional case of Monkeypox has been recorded as of July 31, 2022.

He indicated that his outfit has initiated measures to contain any further spread of the disease.

According to him, the Directorate has elevated its surveillance of Monkeypox disease through awareness creation and has activated all health emergency response teams to tackle the disease.

He called on all residents in the region to avoid all forms of body contact and report cases of fever and skin rashes to the nearest health facility.

Six regions including the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Eastern, and Upper West recorded cases of the disease earlier, with the latest making it seven out of 16 to have recorded cases.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Monkeypox disease a global Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) On Saturday, July 23, 2022.

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