Ghana Records First Mpox Death As Cases Surge
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Ghana has recorded its first death from Mpox, Health <\/a>authorities confirmed Sunday, amid a sharp rise in new infections in the West African country.<\/strong><\/p>\n Twenty-three new cases have been confirmed in the past week, bringing the total number of infections to 257 since the virus was first detected in Ghana in June 2022.<\/p>\n The latest figure marks the highest weekly increase since the outbreak began and the first fatality recorded in the country.<\/p>\n Health <\/a>minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh told AFP \u201cthat the situation is under control.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe key to limiting this outbreak is early detection and responsible behaviour,\u201d Akandoh said.<\/p>\n Mpox, previously known as Monkeypox, is a viral infection related to smallpox, causing fever, body aches and distinct skin lesions and can be deadly.<\/p>\n The disease spreads through close physical contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials.<\/p>\n A Ghanaian government agency responsible for public Health <\/a>is expected to receive vaccines from the World Health <\/a>Organization this week.<\/p>\n \u201cOur at-risk populations have already been identified, and we are ready to roll out vaccination as soon as doses arrive,\u201d a director with the service, Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, told AFP.<\/p>\n The outbreak in Ghana mirrors a broader trend across West Africa, where Health <\/a>officials are struggling to contain the disease.<\/p>\n Thousands of cases have been recorded this year in the region, with Sierra Leone registering a total of 3,350 cases, including 16 deaths \u2013 from January to late May of this year.<\/p>\n Elsewhere thousands more cases have also been detected this year across DR Congo, Uganda and Burundi, according to WHO.<\/p>\n Africa CDC figures released last week show over 47,000 confirmed cases and 221 deaths reported across the continent since January last year.<\/p>\n At least 27,000 of those cases were recorded this year alone.<\/p>\n Last month WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the virus remains an international Health <\/a>emergency amid the rise in West African cases.<\/p>\n