Health authorities have confirmed two fresh cases of Mpox in the Accra Metropolitan Area, prompting an urgent nationwide response by the Ghana Health Service (GHS). These mark the first confirmed infections of the year.
The GHS has directed all regional health directors to reactivate Public Health Emergency Operations Centres. Officials have also been instructed to intensify surveillance, risk communication, and case management across the country to contain any potential spread.
The two confirmed cases, though unrelated, were both detected at a health facility. Contact tracing is actively underway, and the patients are currently under close observation.
Mpox
Mpox, a viral illness similar to smallpox, was first detected in Ghana on June 8, 2022, with five cases. By November 2023, the country had recorded 34 confirmed infections. Before the 2022 outbreak, Mpox had not been considered endemic in Ghana.
A circular signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service calls for heightened vigilance and enhanced detection strategies in response to the renewed threat.
Mpox typically causes fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a rash. It spreads through direct contact with an infected person’s skin, bodily fluids, or lesions—often including transmission through sexual contact. Symptoms can also include muscle and back pain, fatigue, and headaches.
Health officials are urging the public to remain alert, report symptoms early, and avoid close contact with suspected cases.
The resurgence of the virus is part of a broader concern across Africa. As of March 2025, over 24,200 Mpox cases and approximately 260 deaths have been reported in 22 African countries.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains the epicentre, accounting for the majority of both cases and fatalities.