Introduction
While the world flies through time, diseases also evolve and spread across time. In the late 19th century, Tuberculosis (TB) killed one in seven individuals in the United States and Europe, tracing its origins back to 9,000 years ago. Even though Tuberculosis caused loss to the world, other diseases were discovered subsequently. Fast forward, Ebola virus disease (EVD), popularly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, severely affected humans through direct contact with blood, or other bodily fluid of infected people. Since its discovery in 1976, its outbreak was the longest and most complex in West Africa between 2014 and 2016. Following that, the world was hit with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in January 2020, which spread worldwide, causing a pandemic. Ghana not left out, has been affected by each disease (Tuberculosis, Ebola, and Covid-19) in a calculated rate of detections.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Mpox is an infectious disease that can cause a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscle ache, back pain and low energy.” Mpox is caused by the monkey virus (MPXV). WHO stated that “most people fully recover, but some get very sick,” clarifying that Mpox fluctuates. As an enveloped double-stranded DNA virus of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family including variola, cowpox, vaccinia, and other viruses, Clade I with subclades Ia and Ib and Clade II with IIa and IIb, are the two distinct clades of the virus. The Clade IIb began in 2022 with a global outbreak while Clade II originated with small number of cases in the UK since 2022, with rare cases of Clade I in the UK. This type of Mpox has extended to countries across Africa, with low risk of infecting most people in UK.
Outbreak in Ghana
Ghana’s outbreak of Mpox began on 8th June, 2022, following five reported cases leading to confirmed total of 34 cases, despite initially being unknown to be active in Ghana. Following the rise of confirmed cases in Ghana, as at 16th June, 2025, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced 7 new confirmed Mpox cases leaving the country in a total of 98 cases since its first detection with no death. On Friday, May 23 2025, during BreakFast Daily on Channel One TV,Consultant Public Health Physician and Deputy Director of Surveillance at Ghana Health Service (GHS) Dr. Dennis Odai Laryea in an interview published by Citi NewsRoom disclosed that “GHS has investigated over 100 suspected Mpox cases across the country as part of the ongoing surveillance efforts. Although all 16 regions have reported suspected infections, confirmed cases have so far been recorded in only two regions, Greater Accra and Western Region.” In Ghana today, Mpox confirmed cases have risen to over 500, with a total of 1 death and 0 admission.
Causes of Mpox
As stated by WHO, “Mpox spreads from person to person mainly through close contact with someone who has Mpox, including members of a household. Close contact includes skin-to-skin (such as touching or sex) and mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-skin contact (such as kissing) and it can also include being face-to-face with someone who has Mpox (such as talking or breathing close to one another, which can generate infections respiratory particles).” WHO also added that “people with multiple partners are at a higher risk of acquiring Mpox.” While people are susceptible to Mpox from contaminated objects such as clothing, needle injuries in health care, or in community settings such as tattoo parlours, Mpox during pregnancy can be dangerous on the other hand, leading to death of newborn or loss of pregnancy or complications for the parent. It can also be contracted from animal-to-human transmission from infected animals to humans from bites or scratches during activities like cooking, eating of animals, or hunting.
Signs and Symptoms
While identifying Mpox can be difficult because other infections and conditions can look similarly, WHO states that, “Mpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 1-21 days after exposure. Common Mpox symptoms include rash, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, backpain low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.” Symptoms vary widely, and it is indicated that children, pregnant people, and people with weak immune systems, including people with HIV that is not well controlled are at higher risk for serious illness and death due to complications from Mpox.
Treatment
WHO recommends early supportive care to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems. Sex workers, household individuals, health workers, care workers, and people with multiple sex partners are at high risk. Self-care and prevention are key. Contact a health care provider for advice, stay home, wash hands with soap and under a running water, wear mask and cover lesions when around other people until they heal, and avoid scratching sores, shaving areas with sores to prevent spread.
