The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced that a total of 36 cases of Dengue fever have been confirmed in the Eastern and Central Regions.
These cases, according to a statement by the GHS, were confirmed after samples were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR).
The disease, initially recorded in three districts and municipalities of the Eastern Region has now entered the Central Region.
According to the Ghana Health Service, a team from the National level made up of Entomologists and Epidemiologists have joined the regional team to undertake a detailed outbreak investigation.
It added that more samples from suspected cases have been submitted to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for confirmation.
“It is worthy to note that, of all these cases, only one (I) was admitted but has been discharged. The remaining are all being managed at home and are stable,” the statement read.
To mitigate the spread, the Ghana Health Service noted that there is an ongoing orientation for healthcare workers and other stakeholders to better manage the outbreak.
Additionally, the public has been urged to engage in activities that will stop the breeding of mosquitoes.
I. Wear protective clothing
2. Use mosquito repellents
3. If you must keep water containers around your home, ensure it is tightly covered 4. Discard water in containers if the water is not being used
5. On the farms, also ensure that receptacles that could collect water such as empty cocoa pods, coconut shells etc.) are discarded (crushed, buried etc) properly
6. If sleeping during the day or outside. sleep in an insecticide-treated bed net
7. Do not self-medicate: report to the nearest health facility, when you have high-grade fever
Symptoms of the Dengue fever
• Sudden onset of high-grade fever
• Severe headache (mostly in the forehead)
• Body aches- muscle, bone and joint pains
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Rash
