Ghana confirmed first Mpox case of the year, authorities quickly respond with testing and contact tracing

Ghana has confirmed its first Mpox case of 2024, and health officials are taking swift action to control the situation. The patient, a young man, is under medical care and experiencing symptoms such as fever, rash, and body aches. While the specific strain of the virus is still under investigation, authorities have already identified and are monitoring 25 individuals who had contact with the patient.

Health officials are conducting tests to determine whether the strain is clade Ib, a variant known for its rapid transmission, though research on it remains limited. Despite the unknowns, Ghana’s quick response reflects strong public health efforts. The country has previously managed mpox cases in both 2022 and 2023.

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The World Health Organization declared mpox a global health emergency in August following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. While there are currently two known strains of the virus, West and Central Africa continue to demonstrate resilience in managing public health threats.