Audio By Carbonatix
The first suspected case of Ebola disease has been recorded at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi.
The case is said to have resulted in the death of the victim, a 12-year-old girl. Health officials in the Ashanti Region held an emergency meeting over the case earlier Sunday, April 6, 2014.
The victim was first admitted at the paediatric unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital with symptoms of fever and bleeding.
Confirming the incident to Joy News, deputy director of Public Health in the Ashanti region, Dr. Joseph Oduro said blood samples of the patient have already been sent to the Noguchi Memorial research institute in Accra for testing.
The test result, he noted, is expected to be known within 72 hours.
According to Dr. Oduro, it was during a post mortem that it was detected that the victim had internal bleeding.
He noted that the issue is alarming since neighbouring countries like Guinea and Liberia among other countries, have recorded cases of the viral infection.
The deputy director of Public Health in the Ashanti region further requested the members of public to immediately report any symptom experienced, to the nearest hospital.
The disease has already killed dozens of people in neighbouring Guinea. Cases have also been reported in Liberia and lately Mali.
Over 70 people have died so far in Guinea alone since the outbreak begun a little over a month ago.
Meanwhile, there is no known cure or vaccine for the haemorrhagic fever.
It is spread by close personal contact with people, who are infected and kills between 25% and 90% of victims.
Symptoms include internal and external bleeding, diarrhoea and vomiting.
But, the ministry of health is asking the general public to ignore reports of an Ebola outbreak in the country until the test result is released.
Public relations officer of the health Ministry, Tony Goodman told Joy News that there was no need to create any fear and panic as Ghana is alert in dealing with the issue.
He said the country has put its surveillance systems in place. Mr. Goodman therefore, called for caution since some of Ghana's neighbours have recorded cases of the viral disease.
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