GHS confirms surge in typhoid cases in Oti Region

The Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with the Oti Regional Coordinating Council and under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, has initiated an emergency response due to a troubling surge in Typhoid Fever cases across various districts in the Oti Region.

As reported by GHS, the impacted areas consist of Biakoye, Krachi East, Krachi West, and Krachi Nchumuru, where health officials have noted a considerable rise in suspected cases in recent weeks.

In a statement released on Thursday, August 28, the GHS announced that a National Case Management Rapid Response Team has been dispatched to assist the regional health team in evaluating the situation and organizing a prompt response.

“The Ghana Health Service, with support from the Ministry of Health, has deployed the National Case Management Rapid Response Team to support the regional team to ascertain the situation,” the statement read.

Typhoid fever remains a persistent health issue in Ghana, attributed to the Salmonella Typhi bacteria. The disease is transmitted via the faecal-oral route, primarily occurring when individuals ingest food or water tainted with the faeces or urine of an infected person.

Health authorities caution that those infected with the bacteria might not exhibit symptoms, yet they can still transmit the illness.

Typical symptoms include:

Persistent fever
Chills
General malaise
Headache
Sore throat
Abdominal pain (with or without diarrhoea)

The GHS is urging the public, particularly residents in the affected districts, to observe the following preventive measures:

Ensure all drinking water is safe, preferably by boiling.
Wash hands with soap under running water after using the toilet and before eating.
Avoid open defecation, especially near water sources.
Cook food thoroughly, cover cooked meals, and avoid street food prepared in unhygienic conditions.
Take part in community clean-up campaigns to eliminate refuse from public spaces, gutters, and market areas.

Authorities are urging residents to stay calm and work together with health officials on-site.

The GHS has guaranteed the public that extensive measures will be implemented after the team’s preliminary evaluation to manage the outbreak and safeguard lives.

“We wish to entreat the public to remain calm and follow the expert advice from the medical personnel on the ground. We will provide further details after the initial assessment and institute measures that will protect life in the affected districts and the region as a whole,” the statement concluded.

By DeStoryNews