Health Minister confirms three yellow fever cases in Upper West
Ghana has confirmed three cases of yellow fever in the Upper West Region, with all three resulting in deaths, the Minister of Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has announced. The post Health Minister confirms three yellow fever cases in Upper West appeared first on Ghana Business News .
Ghana's Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has confirmed three fatalities caused by yellow fever in the Upper West Region, according to a recent announcement. The three confirmed cases represent the three deaths among 450 suspected cases, which were verified through laboratory tests conducted at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal.
Speaking during a press conference in Accra, the Minister stated that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) will commence a mass vaccination campaign targeting individuals aged nine months to 60 years in the affected region. He emphasized that yellow fever is not transmitted through direct human-to-human contact and urged the public to maintain composure while implementing preventive measures.
The Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, has declared an outbreak in the Upper West Region's affected districts following the laboratory confirmation. The response plan includes containment measures and protection of at-risk communities. Yellow fever is an acute viral disease spread by infected mosquitoes, primarily found in tropical areas of Africa and South America.
Its symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, backache, nausea, vomiting, and weakness, lasting three to four days. However, 15 percent of infected individuals experience a severe form of the disease, characterized by high fever, jaundice, bleeding, kidney and liver damage, and other serious complications. There is no specific antiviral treatment for yellow fever; medical care is focused on symptom management and complications.
Vaccination remains the most effective prevention method, providing lifelong protection for most people. The WHO recommends reducing exposure to infected mosquitoes through stagnant water elimination, covered water storage, protective clothing, and mosquito repellents. Anyone experiencing fever or yellow fever symptoms should seek immediate medical attention and inform healthcare professionals of their symptoms and potential exposure.
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