Ghana has confirmed its first mpox death, health authorities announced on Sunday, amid a sharp increase in cases of the viral disease.
The West African country reported 23 new infections last week, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 257 since mpox was first detected in June 2022.
“The situation is under control,” Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu assured, speaking to AFP.
Mpox, caused by a virus in the same family as smallpox, typically presents with high fever and distinctive skin rashes. Ghana’s public health services are preparing to receive vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO) this week to support containment efforts.
In early June, the WHO decided to maintain the global health emergency level for mpox, which continues to affect mainly African countries, urging “continued international support.”
Since the start of 2024, the WHO has recorded over 37,000 confirmed mpox cases in 25 countries, including 125 deaths. The Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease was first identified in 1970, accounts for 60% of cases and 40% of fatalities. Uganda, Burundi, and Sierra Leone have also seen alarming increases in infections this year.
The first mpox death in Ghana adds to growing concerns over the spread of the disease across West and Central Africa.
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