"Suspected Yellow Fever Outbreak Hits Savannah Region" - Ghana Health Service

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it has received interim laboratory results of an unusual disease from the Savannah Region of the country, that has led to the death of eight (8) people.

According to the Ghana Health Service, the disease is presumed to be Yellow Fever and samples have been shipped for final confirmation.

In a statement signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, it said "Tests for other Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers like Ebola, Lassa, Marburg and Zika are all negative"

He also explained that the affected persons are nomads in selected communities in West and North Gonja of the region who have never been vaccinated against yellow fever.

He further explained that a person with Yellow Fever may have fever and jaundice in the early stages and later on bleed from any of the body openings (e.g. nose, mouth, bloody stools, Vomiting Blood).

"You can get Yellow Fever through the bite of the Aedes mosquito and prevention is mainly by taking the Yellow Fever vaccine or preventing the bite of a mosquito"

He stressed that a yellow fever vaccine when taken will provide lifelong immunity to an individual.

He urged the general public to get vaccinated against Yellow Fever if never vaccinated

"Avoid mosquito bites by wearing clothing that cover all parts of the body. Report to the nearest health facility if you have a fever and especially when you have yellowish discoloration of your eyes" he added.

The Ghana Health Service says it is particularly asking all persons from that part of the region who have fever, general weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting to immediately report to the nearest health facility.

 "A team of experts from Ghana Health Service, Center for Disease Control (CDC) Ghana, World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana, and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) have been dispatched to support the Region to investigate and institute appropriate control measures" he revealed.

The Ghana Health Service mentioned that it will keep the general public updated following the outcome of the investigations and also on the final  laboratory confirmation.

 Below is a copy of the release:

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith