{
  "id": 13135317,
  "title": "Yellow fever outbreak is under control – Health Minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/yellow-fever-outbreak-is-under-control-health-minister",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-09T14:27:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/yellow-fever-outbreak-is-under-control-health-minister/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has declared the yellow fever outbreak in Ghana under control, reassuring the public to stay calm while authorities ramp up surveillance and vaccination efforts. In a media briefing, Akandoh reported that 450 suspected cases had been documented in the country's 16 regions, with 88 cases in the Upper West Region. Of these, three confirmed cases were identified by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. The affected areas included Wa West, Sissala West, Sissala East, Efiama Msua Busa, Nadowli-Kaleo, Wa East, and Wa West Municipal. Seven additional cases were reported in Funsi. The Minister also mentioned that some deaths were being investigated as potential yellow fever cases, but laboratory confirmation was required to confirm such fatalities. To combat the outbreak, the government is expanding vaccination beyond routine childhood immunizations to include individuals aged nine months to 60 years in the affected regions. An additional 187,000 vaccine doses have been requested to support this initiative, with vaccination teams set to commence the campaign in the Upper West Region. Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, explained that yellow fever is transmitted via infected mosquitoes and does not spread directly from person to person. Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and abdominal discomfort, with severe cases potentially leading to bleeding. Asiedu-Bekoe advised the public to protect themselves from mosquito bites using repellents, long-sleeved clothing, trousers, and mosquito nets, particularly during the day when mosquitoes transmitting yellow fever are most active. The Health Minister cautioned against misinformation and conspiracy theories about vaccines, urging the public to rely on official health information and cooperate with authorities during the vaccination campaign.",
  "summary": "The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured the public that the yellow fever outbreak in Ghana is under control, urging residents to remain calm as health authorities intensify surveillance and vaccination efforts.",
  "key_points": [
    "Yellow fever outbreak in Ghana declared under control by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh",
    "450 suspected cases documented across 16 regions, 88 in Upper West Region",
    "Vaccination campaign expanded to ages 9 months to 60 years in affected areas"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Budget 2027: Health minister vows to complete 9,000 contract-to-permanent doctor transitions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/budget-2027-health-minister-vows-to-complete-9-000-contract-to",
        "published": "2026-10-09T12:11:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "Health groups welcome end to contract doctor system, but warn of lingering manpower issues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/health-groups-welcome-end-to-contract-doctor-system-but-warn-of",
        "published": "2026-10-09T12:20:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}