The Ministry of Health, led by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured the public that a recent outbreak of suspected Yellow Fever in the Upper West Region is under control, with emergency measures and targeted vaccination campaigns actively underway.
Out of 88 suspected cases initially flagged across several districts in the region, three have been officially confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) regional reference laboratory at the Institut Pasteur in Dakar, Senegal.
A fourth case tested positive at the national reference facility, while a total of 12 samples screened positive for IgM antibodies locally before being forwarded to Dakar for definitive confirmation.
Speaking at a media briefing, the Minister clarified the localized burden of suspected cases across affected districts, including Wa West (27), Sissala West (23), Sissala East (21), Wa East (1), Wa Municipal (1), Nadowli Kaleo (1), and Dafiama Bussie Issa (7).
The authorities also reported institutional and community fatalities within these areas; however, health officials stressed that these deaths cannot be directly attributed to Yellow Fever without formal laboratory confirmation.
While Yellow Fever immunization forms part of Ghana’s routine childhood vaccination schedule targeting infants aged 9 to 18 months, the current situation requires expanding coverage to broader population groups in high-risk zones.
To contain the spread, the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has applied to the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision. Following technical review and risk assessment, approval has been secured to mobilize over 187,000 doses.
The targeted campaign will cover individuals aged 9 months to 60 years across Wa West, Sissala West, and selected sub-districts in Sissala East, excluding pregnant women.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, elaborated on the epidemiology of the virus to dispel public fear and misinformation. He explained that Yellow Fever is not contagious from person to person like Ebola or Marburg, as transmission depends strictly on the presence of the virus and the individual’s immune status.
Because a large proportion of Ghanaians have already received routine vaccination which grants lifelong immunity, the overall risk to the broader population remains low.
Health officials also cautioned against public demands for vector fumigation, emphasizing that fumigation is ineffective against Yellow Fever vectors. Instead, response strategies are centered on targeted vaccination of eligible groups in affected communities, proactive protection against daytime mosquito bites, and early medical reporting.
Because the primary vector, Aedes aegypti, bites mainly during daylight hours, residents and agricultural workers resting outdoors in the afternoon are urged to use insecticide-treated nets, wear long-sleeved clothing, and apply repellents.
Anyone experiencing high fever, severe headache, body aches, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, or bleeding is advised to seek medical attention immediately.
The Ministry emphasized that confirmed cases are strictly restricted to two out of the country’s 261 districts. Members of the public are urged to remain calm, follow preventive guidelines, and rely solely on official communications issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service.
Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
