13 Jun 2022 | 08:51 AM UTC
Ghana: Officials report confirmed monkeypox cases in Eastern, Greater Accra, and Western Regions as of early June; low risk of transmission
Confirmed monkeypox cases across multiple regions, Ghana, in early June; the risk of transmission is low. Use basic health precautions.
Event
Ghanian health officials have identified 12 suspected cases of monkeypox across the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Western Regions, Ghana including five confirmed cases as of June 8. One of the patients traveled to the US before the onset of symptoms. Officials may identify additional suspected cases in the coming weeks as disease surveillance and contact tracing continue. This represents the most updated data as of June 13.
Context
In contrast to past sporadic cases linked to travel to endemic countries, health officials have not confirmed the source of infection for the current outbreak, which is primarily centered in Europe. Human-to-human transmission occurs among people in close physical contact, with the increase in recent cases linked to sexual contact, suggesting that the virus linked to the disease can be sexually transmitted. The current outbreak highlights the importance of vigilant safe sexual practices and suggests monkeypox can be transmitted while the infected person displays few or no symptoms; however, the risk is currently assessed as low for individuals not routinely engaging with multiple or anonymous sexual partners.
Monkeypox does not naturally occur in Ghana; most cases are reported in West and Central Africa, primarily in the DRC, Nigeria, and Cameroon among individuals who report contact with wild primates or other mammals which may harbor the disease. The last confirmed monkeypox outbreak in Ghana was reported in 2003.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as the virus that causes smallpox. However, monkeypox is not the same as smallpox, and it does not have the same capacity for rapid human-to-human transmission. Monkeypox is mainly transmitted to humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected rodents or primates. Human-to-human transmission primarily occurs through close personal contact with an infected individual via respiratory droplets, direct contact with bodily fluids, or indirect contact with lesion material (e.g., contaminated clothing or bedding). Symptoms typically appear 6-16 days after exposure but can develop up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms generally include fever, headache, muscle aches and backaches, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion, and a distinctive rash characterized by lesions that progress through several stages before falling off.
Advice
Practice basic health precautions, including frequent handwashing with soap and water, covering the nose and mouth when coughing, and avoiding obviously ill individuals. Avoid overcrowded areas, such as nightclubs, and consider using safe sexual practices, such as physical barriers (condoms), in countries reporting monkeypox transmission. Seek medical attention if symptoms develop within two weeks of being in affected areas.
