Ghana registers its first case of Mpox

A case of Mpox disease has been reported for the first time this year in the Bia region of Ghana’s North West Province, according to the Ghana Health Service.

“The patient is 15 years old and that his prognosis is not life-threatening,” reports said.

“The country has 230 suspected cases of Mpox, and tests are underway to confirm them,” reports added.

Mpox is transmitted by rodents, such as mice and squirrels, or by infected people. Contact with skin rashes caused by the virus, the use of clothing, sheets, towels and similar items contaminated by these rashes, and contact with body fluids are among the main causes of transmission.

The first symptoms may appear between 5 and 21 days after contracting the virus. It usually causes high fever, head, back and muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, chills and chickenpox-like blisters on the skin.

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed the name of monkeypox to Mpox due to concerns about racism and discrimination.

Mpox was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the WHO on August 14.