Dr Marion Okoh-Owusu, Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), says the Service is conducting an active case search for Mpox in all 14 districts of the Western Region.

She said the move forms part of measures to ensure that staff of the Ghana Health Service respond effectively to the fight against the Mpox disease.

Dr Okoh-Owusu made this announcement while addressing GHS staff in the Ellembelle District at Nkroful, urging them to intensify surveillance systems to curb the spread of Mpox.

The meeting brought together staff of the Ghana Health Service at the district, sub-district, regional and national levels, as well as representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the media.

The Regional Health Director reminded healthcare workers to remain committed and actively support efforts to combat the Mpox disease.

She commended Dr Augustine Kwesi Amoako, Ellembelle District Director of Health Services, for leading healthcare initiatives and raising the standard of Mpox response efforts in the district.

As part of the active case search, Dr Okoh-Owusu said the GHS would engage traditional healing centres and chemical sellers at drug stores to ensure that patients under their care were referred promptly to hospitals.

She said since the Mpox outbreak was recorded on May 2, 2024, in the Western Region, with the first case identified in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, 13 out of the 14 districts have reported cases.

Dr Okoh-Owusu disclosed that as of December 8, the GHS had recorded a total of 1,060 suspected Mpox cases in the region.

Out of this number, 398 cases tested positive, with 391 patients having fully recovered.

She said, however, that three patients had died from Mpox and co-morbid infections.

Dr Okoh-Owusu advised communities to adhere strictly to guidance from health professionals and urged patients to follow transmission-based precautions to prevent the spread of the disease, noting that refusal of treatment by some admitted patients undermined response efforts.

She said the Service would continue to intensify community education to deepen public understanding and ensure timely recovery through in-patient care.

She added that the Regional Health Directorate would convene a meeting of the Public Health Emergency Management Committee to assess the situation regarding Mpox in the region.

Dr Augustine Kwesi Amoako expressed gratitude to the Western Regional Director of Health Services for the financial and technical support provided to healthcare delivery in the Ellembelle District.

He said 47 Mpox cases had been recorded in the district, prompting the Health Directorate to intensify surveillance measures to contain the disease.

Dr Patrick Avevor, Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager at the WHO, said several interventions, including vaccination, had been rolled out as part of Ghana’s response to Mpox.

He said Ghana received about 33,000 vaccine doses, out of which 20,000 were distributed to the Western Region in October.

On the effectiveness of the vaccine, he said there was evidence that early identification of cases followed by vaccination helped to quickly halt transmission.

Dr Avevor urged GHS staff to sustain surveillance, strengthen contact tracing and maintain high levels of risk communication.

Dr Sally-Ann Ohene, Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager at the WHO, commended staff of the GHS in Ellembelle and encouraged them to take advantage of available opportunities to curb Mpox.

She also urged the GHS to fully utilise WHO support to conduct active case searches and identify potential cases in order to break transmission chains.