Health Service warns of Dengue fever

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an alert following an outbreak of Dengue Fever in Burkina Faso, which borders Ghana’s Upper East and Upper West in the north.

In a statement copied to ClassFMonline.com, which was signed by Dr Kofi Asemanyi-Mensah, a Deputy Director (Public Health) for the Western Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the service said it received the alert from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In view of that, the GHS has informed authorities at health facilities in the country to “enhance surveillance and update prospective preparedness and response for plans for Dengue (and other Arboviruses: Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika and Yellow fever)”.

Further, “blood samples of suspected cases should be sent in triple package protection with appropriate and adequately-filled case-based form and sent to the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) for laboratory tests”.

Dengue is a debilitating mosquito-borne tropical disease characterised by sudden fever and acute joint pains.

Meanwhile, the GHS has also said that “they have received rumours of Zika virus circulating in Nigeria”.

The statement indicated that the public would be informed on any further developments concerning the two diseases.