Ghana issues public alert over dengue outbreak
The National Surveillance System in Ghana, in west Africa, reported detecting unusual cases of a malaria-like illness in some districts of the Eastern Region, according to an alert signed by Director-General Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye.
The cases were not responding to anti-malarial treatments and were managed as acute febrile illness.
Samples from the patients were sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research for testing. Nine of the cases tested positive for Dengue and are being managed as non-severe cases at home.
A team from the national level, made up of entomologists and epidemiologists, have joined the regional team for the outbreak investigation.
The following preparedness measures and actions are being taken to include enhanced surveillance, public education and an entomological assessment is being performed, among other actions.
In 2023, Ghana reported 18 total dengue cases and no deaths.
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Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).
Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).
Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.
Since the beginning of the year, more than 48,000 total dengue cases have been reported in 12 African Union Member States, including 63 deaths.