Ghana has reported its first case of mpox this year, as confirmed by the country’s health service. While the specific variant remains undisclosed, authorities are conducting tests to determine whether it is the clade Ib strain that has triggered global concern due to its rapid spread and limited research.
The patient, a young male, exhibited symptoms such as fever, rash, and body pains, and 25 contacts have been identified for monitoring. This marks Ghana’s first reported case in 2024, following previous occurrences in 2022 and 2023.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in August 2024, after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to nearby countries. Two strains of the virus are currently circulating: the clade I variant, endemic to parts of West and Central Africa, and the newer clade Ib strain, which spreads more easily through close contact, including sexual transmission.
Health authorities in Ghana are closely monitoring the situation as they await test results to confirm the exact strain involved.
Melissa Enoch
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