- Ghana has reported nine cases of Dengue Fever in the Eastern Region.
This follows unusual cases of clinical malaria that did not respond to antimalarial treatment, leading to further investigation.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), announced that the cases were confirmed at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) after patient samples with acute febrile illnesses were tested.
A team of entomologists and epidemiologists has joined the regional team for a detailed outbreak investigation.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye also urged Chief Executives of Teaching Hospitals to inform all health workers in their regions and facilities, including mission and private establishments, to enhance surveillance and ensure all suspected malaria cases undergo laboratory confirmation.
He advised health workers to be vigilant and follow the surveillance case definitions for Dengue Fever.
Dengue Fever
A suspected case is defined as any person with an acute febrile illness lasting 2-7 days, accompanied by two or more symptoms: headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, bleeding, or low white blood cell count.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Most cases are asymptomatic or result in mild illness, but severe cases can involve shock, severe bleeding, or severe organ impairment.
WHO has emphasised that effective mosquito control is critical to preventing and controlling dengue, targeting all areas where humans and mosquitoes interact, such as homes, workplaces, schools, and hospitals.
Globally, over 7.6 million dengue cases have been reported to WHO as of April 30, 2024, including about 3.4 million confirmed cases, over 16,000 severe cases, and over 3,000 deaths.
In Africa, from January 1 to April 28, 13 countries reported ongoing dengue transmission, with 32,925 cases, 14,095 confirmed, 1,051 severe cases, and 57 deaths.
WHO has identified three of the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3) circulating in the African region, with Burkina Faso, Mauritius, and Mali being the current priority countries based on dengue burden.
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