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Monkey-pox disease; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “is a rare disease, that is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. The virus belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus, in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine), and cowpox virus”.
According to the CDC, “the first human case of monkeypox was recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC); in the year 1970 during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox. Since then, monkey-pox has been reported in people, in several African countries including Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone)”.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The main mode of transmission is through close contact with an infected person or animal. Medical experts again revealed that the Monkey-pox virus “can also be transmitted from person to person, by inhaling large respiratory droplets, or through close contact with body fluids and lesions, as well as bedding and other contaminated materials”.
According to health researchers, “the Human monkey-pox disease has never been reported in Ghana, but rodents captured in forested areas of southern Ghana were the source of the monkeypox virus introduced into the United States in 2003. Subsequent to the outbreak in the United States, 204 animals were collected from two commercial trapping sites in Ghana”.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Currently; the latest information coming from the Ghana Health Service reveals that Ghana has recorded its first cases of the Monkey-pox disease.
According to the Ghana Health Service, the first Five cases of the disease were confirmed in the Eastern, Western and Greater Accra Regions.
In a press briefing, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye said; “So far, since the outbreak, we’ve tested 12 suspected cases in Ghana since May 24, 2022. Currently, we have confirmed five cases in three regions; Eastern, Western and Greater Accra. No deaths have occurred among the cases”. He also said, “I am sure of late, we have had a lot of discussions on social media on monkeypox, and I think the most popular one was the one from the Western Region. That was negative; we tested and it was negative”.
Symptoms of the monkey-pox disease according to Health Experts; “may include other symptoms, such as fever, swollen lymph nodes, and pain when swallowing, before or after the rash appears. Most infections last two to four weeks”.
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