As Ghana confirms two new cases of Mpox in the Accra Metropolitan Area, Public Health Expert Samuel Arthur is urging the public to take precautions seriously, warning that “once affected, they also can pass it to others through physical contact.”
He explained that the virus requires “quite some close contact, exchange of fluid in some instances for one to pass infection,” emphasizing the importance of minimizing unnecessary physical interactions.
Speaking to ABC News GH, Mr. Arthur stressed that Mpox is not a new disease, but its resurgence requires heightened vigilance.
“We need to up our surveillance system, so as wherever any affected person is, surely the health system can capture them as soon as possible,” he advised.
Health authorities have confirmed that both cases, though unrelated, were detected at health facilities and that contact tracing is underway.
He urged the public to report symptoms early, noting, “The earlier you report, the better for us.” Mr. Arthur warned of the disease’s potentially fatal nature, citing a fatality rate ranging from 17.8% to 30.5%.
The Ghana Health Service has responded by reactivating emergency health operations and enhancing case management nationwide.
“Once we allow it to spread over a certain magnitude, it becomes very difficult to control, and that is where fatality also begins to set in,” Arthur cautioned.
