The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has highlighted the ongoing activities to tackle the Dengue outbreak after confirming 36 cases from both Eastern and Central Regions.
The 36 cases were detected in the communities by healthcare workers using an appropriate Case Definition, the GHS said.
The GHS issued a Press Release on Monday 14th July 2024, announcing an outbreak of Dengue in some districts of the Eastern Region.
Dengue fever spreads to Central Region – Clinical Epidemiologist
As part of the response measures, a team from the National level made up of Entomologists and Epidemiologists joined the regional team to undertake a detailed outbreak investigation.
The investigation has been carried out across adjoining districts in Eastern and Central Regions with reported surge in malarial-like conditions. Many more samples from suspected cases have been submitted to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for confirmation.
“As at today, 17h July, 2024, we have confirmed 36 cases from both Eastern and Central Regions.
Outbreak of Dengue: GHS confirms 36 cases from both Eastern and Central Regions
“These cases were detected in the communities by health care workers using an appropriate Case Definition. It is worthy to note that, of all these cases, only one (1) was admitted but has been discharged. The remaining are all being managed at home and are stable,” the statement by the GHS said.
All are reminded of the symptoms of dengue, and these include: Sudden onset of high-grade fever; Severe headache (mostly in the forehead) Body aches – muscle, bone and joint pains; Nausea and/or vomiting; Rash.
The GHS highlighted ongoing activities to fight the outbreak.
These are “Orientation of clinicians on the case definition at all levels including CHPS compounds, meetings held with key stakeholders, i.e. District Health Management Teams, M/DCES, Chiefs; Community durbars;Risk communication in the affected districts
We continue to urge the general population, especially, those in the affected areas to prevent mosquito bites by doing the following: 1. Wear protective clothing 2. Use mosquito repellents 3. If you must keep water containers around your home, ensure it is tightly covered, 4. Discard water in containers if the water is not being used 5. On the farms, also ensure that receptacles that could collect water such as empty cocoa pods, coconut shells etc.) are discarded (crushed, buried etc) properly 6. If sleeping during the day or outside, sleep in an insecticide treated bed net 7. Do not self-medicate: report to the nearest health facility when you have high grade fever.
