The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reported a rabies outbreak in the Ashanti Region.
As of Monday, September 12, 2022, four such instances, plus one likely case, had been confirmed by health facilities in the Region, with a case fatality rate of 100 percent.
These cases were reported from Asante Akim South, Bosomtwe, and Kwabre East.
“The Regional Health Directorate brings to the notice of all health facilities, a rise in a confirmed outbreak of rabies and deaths in three districts in the Ashanti Region”, a statement from the Service said.
Meanwhile, health-care providers have been encouraged to be on the lookout for suspected cases of people experiencing headaches, neck discomfort, nausea, fever, fear of water, anxiety, agitation, odd tingling sensations or pain at the wound site, or contact with a rabid animal.
The following public health initiatives are proposed by the Health Directorate:
- Enhanced community/public sensitization to rabies
- Improve case search for rabies in the facilities
- Follow up and treat all cases of dog bites
- Liaise with veterinary officers in districts for dog vaccination exercise
Annual global estimates suggest that over 60,000 people die from rabies, primarily in Africa and Asia.
The disease, which is primarily transmitted through animal bites, is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear.
