Tejal Somvanshi
Health officials in Ghana’s Ashanti Region have confirmed their first cholera cases. Five people tested positive across three districts. This is part of a larger outbreak that has taken 35 lives across the country since October 2024.
Three cases were found in the Sekyere South district. Kumasi and Bekwai each had one case. These five cases were confirmed after doctors tested 28 people with symptoms.
Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng leads the region’s health services. “We are working to stop the spread,” he said. “We are also training our healthcare workers to spot and treat new cases.”
Health authorities acted quickly after finding these cases. They called an emergency meeting at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. The meeting brought together many important groups. These included the Food and Drugs Authority, health inspectors, and water safety officials.
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The outbreak has hit Ghana hard. Since October 2024, doctors have seen 4,155 possible cases nationwide. The Western Region suffered the most. It reported over 100 cases and 15 deaths. The disease has also spread to the Greater Accra and Central Regions.
Health teams are fighting the outbreak in several ways:
- They clean infected homes with disinfectant
- They keep sick people away from others
- They track down people who had contact with sick patients
- They watch carefully for new cases
- They train healthcare workers to spot and treat the illness
Officials checked the communities of Bekwai and Sekyere South carefully. They found that the sick people lived in specific areas. This discovery helps them focus their prevention efforts where needed most.
Cholera makes people very sick with severe diarrhea and dehydration. It spreads through dirty water and contaminated food. To stay safe, people should:
- Wash hands often with soap and clean water
- Cook all food completely
- Drink and cook with safe water only
- Keep homes and surroundings clean
- Get medical help quickly if they feel sick
There is some good news. All five patients in the Ashanti Region have recovered. The last patient went home on December 24, 2024. But health officials remain alert for new cases. They continue to watch the situation closely in all affected areas.
The outbreak shows that Ghana still faces problems with clean water and sanitation. Health officials say they need everyone’s help to stop cholera from spreading. Following basic health rules is the key to preventing new cases.
