Ghana has confirmed its first death from Mpox following a sudden spike in new infections, health officials announced on Sunday. The country recorded 23 new cases over the past week, the highest weekly increase since the virus was first detected there in June 2022. This brings the total number of infections to 257.
Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh assured the public that the outbreak is under control and stressed the importance of early detection and responsible behaviour in containing the spread.
Mpox, formerly called Monkeypox, is a viral disease related to smallpox. It causes fever, muscle pain and distinctive skin rashes and can be fatal in some cases. The virus spreads through direct contact with an infected person or contaminated items.
To control the outbreak, Ghana’s public health agency is preparing to receive vaccines from the World Health Organization. Dr. Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, a director at the health service, said at-risk groups have already been identified and are ready to be vaccinated once doses arrive.
The situation in Ghana reflects a wider health crisis in West Africa. Sierra Leone has recorded over 3,300 Mpox cases and 16 deaths so far this year. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda and Burundi have also seen thousands of infections.
Data from the Africa CDC shows more than 47,000 confirmed Mpox cases and 221 deaths across the continent since January 2024, with over 27,000 of those reported this year alone. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently confirmed that the virus continues to pose a global health threat as cases rise across West Africa.
