Ghana has confirmed 25 new cases of the M-Pox disease, bringing the total confirmed to 519.
There are no admissions while death toll remains 1.
The latest update shows an increase from August 28, when 21 new cases brought the total to 467. On August 25, the Service reported 22 cases, which pushed the cumulative figure at the time to 446.
Health officials explained that Mpox is mainly transmitted through close contact with an infected person, with symptoms including fever, headache, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes.
The Ghana Health Service, urged the public to remain alert, practice good hygiene, and seek immediate medical attention if they experience any of the symptoms.
The Service is however expecting the arrival of some vaccines into the country in the coming weeks to compliment efforts in fighting the disease.
Meanwhile, the GHS says Stigma and lack of awareness remain the two major challenges affecting the management of the Mpox disease outbreak in the country.
In few weeks, the country is expecting the arrival of some 33, 600 vaccines which the GHS is anticipating will break the source of transmission of the virus.
Currently, Ghana has confirmed 494 cases from all 16 regions and the disease hotspot remains the Western, Western North and Greater Accra regions.
The Director of Public Health at the GHS, Dr Franklin Asiedu Bekoe who spoke exclusively to 3news noted that his outfit is trying to enhance awareness across the country.
‘’We are trying to expand and improve upon our awareness creation. We have realized that we have gotten some challenges in terms of concentrating or heightening our awareness. But I must state that there are parts of the country where awareness is high like the Western Region, Tarkwa.
In the next few weeks, we will get some vaccines and what is going to happen is that we will target the hot spots so most of it will go to the Western Region. Some particular districts to break the source of infection and transmission.” He stated.
Dr Bekoe further noted that the Service is hopeful of a decline in cases soon, as they prepare to gather the cohorts for the vaccination drive.
‘‘Thankfully almost 90% of case are all mild. We are also adopting a psychological support for the patients which will help them trust us and help us with the right contacts to trace. So, we have been able to identify a number that we are likely to get the vaccine to cut the infection. So, we are trying to identify clusters. So, for us our concentration is going to be the Western Region and some parts of Accra, the mining areas and some slums. And hopefully cases should decline soon.” He said.
