The Ministry of Health has assured Ghanaians that no suspected or confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has been recorded in the country despite recent outbreaks reported in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In a statement, the ministry said updates from the World Health Organization and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the detection of suspected and confirmed Ebola cases in the two countries.
According to the ministry, precautionary measures have already been activated nationwide in collaboration with international health partners to strengthen Ghana’s preparedness and response systems.
The ministry said surveillance and screening activities at airports, seaports and land borders have been intensified, with travellers arriving from affected countries being closely monitored.
Health workers across the country are also undergoing training and receiving the necessary support to identify, isolate and manage suspected Ebola cases safely.
The statement further noted that public health emergency coordination systems and rapid response mechanisms had been activated, while public education and community awareness campaigns had also been intensified.
The Ministry of Health explained that Ebola Virus Disease is a severe viral infection spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons or contaminated materials. Symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, bleeding.
The ministry urged the public to remain calm and observe preventive measures such as regular handwashing, avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick persons and reporting suspected symptoms promptly to the nearest health facility.
It also cautioned against handling dead bodies without proper protection and advised the public to avoid.