Ghana has recorded nine cholera cases in the Ada West and East districts of the Greater Accra Region, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced.
A statement issued by the Service in Accra on Monday said the first case was confirmed on October 4, 2024 in the Ada West District.
It indicated that the infected individual sought treatment at a health facility with symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain a few days after attending a funeral in Ada East and also noted that a cholera case was subsequently confirmed in the Ada East District.
In response, the GHS has activated Public Health Emergency Management Committees (PHEMCs) at all levels to address the situation.
These include a joint multi-sectoral Public Health Emergency Rapid Response Team (PHERRT) comprising members from national, regional, and district levels, as well as representatives from the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and Environmental Health Units from the two affected districts.
According to the GHS, an ongoing outbreak investigation and environmental assessment are being conducted, with alerts sent to all health facilities across the country.
It noted that healthcare workers in the affected areas have been sensitised to cholera case definitions, sample management, and case management adding that a daily active community case search was being carried out, and strict infection prevention and control practices have been enforced in all health facilities.
The Ghana Health Service has advised the public to drink safe treated water, eat well cooked or properly handled food, avoid close contact with infected individuals, practice good hygiene; wash hands with soap under running water, ensure a proper disposal of faces and report to the nearest health facility if experiencing profuse diarrhoea and vomiting.