The Ashanti Region has confirmed its first five cholera cases, recorded across three districts. Sekyere South District accounts for the majority with three cases, while Kumasi and Bekwai have reported one case each as of December 28, 2024.
Out of 28 suspected cases, laboratory tests confirmed five positive results.
This outbreak adds the Ashanti Region to the growing list of affected areas, including the Western, Greater Accra, and Central Regions, which have all experienced fatal cholera outbreaks in recent months.
Nationwide, 4,155 suspected cases and 35 deaths have been reported since October 2024, as of December 23.
In response to the outbreak, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has heightened its alert level and convened an emergency meeting at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre.
Attendees included representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), environmental health units, water and sanitation departments, and district health officials.
Measures implemented to curb the spread include:
– Disinfecting homes of confirmed cases.
– Isolating patients and tracing their contacts.
– Enhancing public health surveillance and response systems.
– Activating public health emergency committees in affected areas.
An initial assessment of the impacted communities in Bekwai and Sekyere South revealed that confirmed cases are localized, with none of the affected individuals using public restrooms.
Under the leadership of Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, the Regional Health Directorate has also intensified public awareness campaigns and provided healthcare workers with enhanced training on identifying and managing cholera cases.
The outbreak was first reported in the Western Region earlier this year, where over 100 cases were confirmed, resulting in 15 fatalities.
