Ghana is revising its emergency response plans due to a rise in monkeypox cases in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) will gather experts on Wednesday, August 14, to address the increasing cases of monkeypox in Africa.
Recently, Burundi and Rwanda reported their first cases, while Kenya and the Central African Republic have also seen a rise in infections.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported a significant increase in monkeypox cases, with the virus detected in 10 African countries this year.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone accounts for over 96% of all reported cases and deaths.
The agency highlighted a 160% rise in cases compared to the same period last year, along with a 19% increase in fatalities.
Nearly 70% of the cases and 85% of the deaths in the DRC have occurred in children under 15.
Independent experts from various countries will evaluate whether the growing spread of monkeypox in Africa justifies a global health emergency declaration.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, stated that clinicians are already being re-trained to ensure early detection of any cases.
