Ghana has confirmed 43 cases of cholera, resulting in 2 fatalities. Currently, 12 individuals are hospitalized, with nearly 200 suspected cases reported, primarily in the Ada East and West districts of the Greater Accra Region.
Health officials have indicated that some of the confirmed cases originated from neighboring countries also experiencing cholera outbreaks.
The Ghana Health Service initially announced the outbreak on October 11, focusing on the Ada West and East districts.
Following this announcement, several key interventions have been initiated by the District Security Coordinating Councils.
In an exclusive interview with 3News, Dr. Franklyn Asiedu Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, explained that the response to the outbreak is threefold, with a strong emphasis on early case identification and contact tracing.
Dr. Bekoe mentioned that some cases were brought into the country by Ghanaian traders who cross regional borders.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to manage the disease’s spread and improve sanitation in coastal communities through collaboration with various stakeholders.
He noted, “A lot of efforts are ongoing on the ground and they are yielding results. We have oral rehydration centers in the affected areas to provide initial treatment for those affected.
Although we are seeing an increase in cases and the risk of further spread is high, the reported cases are relatively mild.
Currently, we have 43 confirmed cases: 37 in Ada East and 6 in Ada West, with some imported.
While I can’t provide an exact number of suspected cases, estimates range between 100 and 200. As of now, 12 individuals are hospitalized, and 2 have died.”
Furthermore, he indicated that cases are being reported in nearly all coastal nations bordering Ghana, leading to ongoing discussions with ECOWAS to assess the disease burden in the region.
