Dengue Fever outbreak: WHO supports Ghana with 4,000 Rapid Diagnosis Test kits

The World Health Organization (WHO) has supported Ghana’s response to the dengue fever outbreak by providing 4,000 (rapid diagnostic test) kits.

This assistance is aimed at enhancing Ghana’s efforts to identify more cases of dengue fever.

Dengue fever has been detected in eight regions so far, but the Ghana Health Service reports that there has been no surge in cases. Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, noted that there have been no new cases in the past two weeks, indicating that the threat level is currently low.

 

So far, the number of recorded cases remains below 200 across the eight regions, with the Eastern and Central regions having the highest case counts. He emphasized that dengue fever is endemic, meaning that cases are likely to occur throughout the country. This highlights the importance of increased testing at health facilities.

‘‘Dengue is not unknown in the country, so the issue had to do with whether we’re testing for it. So, though we are not having any surge in cases, we will be getting some one or two cases as you progress so it will become quite clear that reasonably, possibly, then it could be endemic in the country. What we have done is that now we have a number of testing facilities, the reference lab and Noguchi.

In the past, so the ability to confirm cases is now on the increase. We have increased our surveillance system. What I can say is that we are not having surge in cases. You see this burden is somewhat dependent on the kind of cellular system that you use.

Now we can do more of the testing and we are testing every malaria case. DG had received some package from public, about 4000 kits of army. 1000 kits of RMIT that are going to distribute. So, if clinician you see a case that has a case of similar to dengue you can test basically,” he said.

The viral infection, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, is gradually spreading sporadically across the country. All reported cases have been mild, with only two requiring hospital admission.

Although discussions are ongoing about the potential for vaccines, the Ghana Health Service remains focused on early detection, as the country needs to establish a clear threshold for vaccine use.

“We need to establish clear thresholds to say that when it’s above this level and becomes a big issue. So, I wouldn’t. I’m not saying that it’s clearly an issue of being really endemic. What I’m saying is that you’re more likely to get cases daily across the country if you look for it.

So, what you’re looking for is that is there a surge in cases? And then we’ll try and make sure that you intervene. But then what is good is that the directions to address malaria, somehow addresses dengue. So, the more effective you are with malaria, the more you also be addressing the issue,” he explained.

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