A cholera outbreak has swept across five regions in Ghana, claiming 35 lives and infecting 4,155 people since October 2024.
The Western Region has been the hardest hit, with 17 deaths, mostly occurring within 24 hours of hospital admission.
According to a statement issued by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on December 24, 2024, and signed by its Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the outbreak initially spread from the Greater Accra Region to Central, Eastern, Western, and Ashanti Regions. However, the Eastern Region has since been declared free of active cases.
To combat the outbreak, the GHS conducted an oral cholera vaccination campaign from November 30 to December 19, 2024, in hotspot areas such as Awutu Senya East and Sekondi-Takoradi.
The campaign was highly successful, with 662,906 out of 792,482 eligible people receiving the vaccine. As a result, Awutu Senya East has not reported any new cases since the campaign.
The GHS has activated public health emergency operations to quickly respond to new cases, deployed rapid response teams to affected areas, and conducted community case searches to identify and treat cases early.
The service has also set up oral rehydration centers to treat mild cases and is educating the public on the importance of hygiene and safe water practices.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye has urged the public to take extra precautions during the festive season, such as drinking safe water, washing food thoroughly, and maintaining good hygiene.
He acknowledged the efforts of health workers, local authorities, and other stakeholders in addressing the outbreak and assured the public that all necessary steps are being taken to bring the situation under control.
The GHS has advised the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of cholera to the nearest health facility.