The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared a cholera outbreak in the country following the confirmation of nine cases in the country. According to the service in a statement, the first case of cholera was confirmed in the Ada West District of the Greater Accra region on 4th October 2024. The person presented to the health facility with vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain a couple of days after attending a funeral in Ada East.
Subsequently, Ada East District also reported confirmed cases of cholera. As of 11th October, nine cholera cases had been confirmed in both districts (Ada West and Ada East). Following the notification, the public health response activities undertaken include:
* Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) at all levels (National, Regional and Districts) have been activated.
* A joint multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Team (PHERRT) from the national, regional and district levels, as well as representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Health Units from the two affected districts has been activated.
* An ongoing outbreak investigation and environmental assessment are being conducted.
* An ‘Alert’ has been sent to all health facilities across the country.
* Contact identification, tracing and follow-up are being done.
* Healthcare workers in the affected areas have been sensitised on case definitions for cholera, sample management and case management.
* Daily active community case search is being conducted.
* Strict Infection Prevention and Control practices in all health facilities have been enforced.
* A cholera oral re-hydration centre for cases with mild symptoms has been set up.
The general public is entreated to practice personal hygiene to stay protected against the disease.
