Ghana launches vaccination campaign following yellow fever outbreak

Ghanaian health authorities have declared a yellow fever outbreak in parts of the Upper West Region. Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has assured the public that the situation is under control, noting that 450 suspected cases have been recorded across 16 regions, with 88 suspected cases in the Upper West Region. Three cases in the region have been laboratory-confirmed, resulting in three deaths.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is launching a vaccination campaign next week targeting the Sissala East, Sissala West, and Wa West districts. The government has requested an additional 187,000 vaccine doses to support an expanded immunization effort covering individuals aged 9 months to 60 years in affected areas. This response is being coordinated by the GHS in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

Health officials, including Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at GHS, have advised the public to use mosquito repellents, wear long-sleeved clothing, and sleep under nets to prevent bites. Authorities are also investigating reported deaths to confirm if they are linked to the virus and are monitoring samples sent to Dakar for further testing.