Ghana explores AI to predict Ebola and other health threats

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is investigating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to anticipate disease outbreaks, strengthening emergency planning ahead of potential Ebola threats. Director-General Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea stated that officials are evaluating how emerging technologies could enhance public health risk assessments and facilitate prompt decisions when infectious diseases pose a risk to national borders.

This comes amid reports of Ebola outbreaks in parts of Africa and concerns over the disease's spread through international travel. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Dr Kaba Akoriyea explained that AI would aid authorities in anticipating developments and planning responses. "From there, I move into a meeting where we are talking about technology and how to even use AI to help predict what will happen," he said.

The exploration of AI aligns with the need to identify infectious disease threats in a world with frequent international travel, allowing for early detection of risks and informed decisions on needed surveillance and resource allocation. For Ghana, such tools could complement existing disease monitoring systems by pinpointing areas needing closer attention and enabling timely interventions.

However, the success of AI-based systems hinges on access to reliable and up-to-date data, requisite technical expertise, and the readiness of health authorities to act on generated information. AI would not supplant laboratory diagnosis, clinical assessment, or established outbreak response measures; instead, it could function as an auxiliary tool to aid public health officials.

Ghana currently operates in the preparedness phase, not announcing a confirmed outbreak. The GHS has conducted simulation exercises and coordinated with other state institutions to bolster response arrangements. The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre at Pantang monitors international health developments and supports emergency coordination, involving multiple agencies like health, security, education, and disaster management.

Regional engagements are vital due to the movement of people across borders and the necessity for information sharing about emerging health risks. Surveillance is paramount in Ebola preparedness, involving rapid case identification, laboratory testing, isolation, clinical care, contact tracing, infection prevention and control, and public education.