The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Abogye has assured Ghanaians that the country has geared up its response system to deal with the new Marburg virus, which has now been detected in the nearby Ivory Coast.
According to him, surveillance systems at the various ports of entry will be strengthened adding that the Ghana Health Service and its partners have initiated systems and have submitted structures that will help prevent the virus from entering the country.
He also revealed that the outbreak of the Marburg in West African presents some challenges to the public health system in Ghana adding that “we are going to have to respond to ensure that not only our land borders but even our sea borders including the fishermen who go round and fish and come back, we are activating all the surveillance system to ensure that they are taken care of.”
He said that with fever being the major presenting feature, all the borders have the capacity to test temperature routinely. He, therefore, noted that his outfit has strengthened surveillance at the port of entry “particularly western border, community-built surveillance and volunteers will be activated to support and look out for any signs and symptoms of Marburg.”
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye, briefing the media on the Covid response programme in Accra on Sunday said, an alert has been sent to the regions and districts about Marburg preparations.
On Covid-19, he said Ghana has recorded 6,220 active cases of the coronavirus as of Sunday, August 15 with 103,568 recoveries and 992 deaths.
He also advised members of the public who have been vaccinated with AstraZeneca against going in for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine adding that they may be doing so at their own risk.
Source: ATLFMNEWS
