Monkey Pox kills soldier in Upper East Region

Reports from the Upper East Region indicate that one person has died from the deadly Monkey Pox.

The individual according to the Upper East Regional Health Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi is Military personnel.

The Officer is said to have been admitted on Saturday 23rd July 2022 and died on Tuesday, 26th July 2022.

The Regional Health Director who spoke to Bolgatanga-based A1 Radio asked the public to be weary and observe the needed measures to ensure that they are safe.

“All that I can say is that yes, we have recorded one case and the person has died. I will not be able to give further information because we will brief the media in the coming days,” he is reported to have said.

Meanwhile, the death of the Officer has left people, especially in the regional capital in a state of shock and fear.

What are the symptoms of monkey pox?

Initial symptoms include fever, headaches, swellings, back pain, aching muscles.

Once the fever breaks a rash can develop, often beginning on the face, then spreading to other parts of the body, most commonly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

The rash, which can be extremely itchy or painful, changes and goes through different stages before finally forming a scab, which later falls off. The lesions can cause scarring.

The infection usually clears up on its own and lasts between 14 and 21 days.

How do you catch it?

Monkeypox can be spread when someone is in close contact with an infected person. The virus can enter the body through broken skin, the respiratory tract or through the eyes, nose or mouth.

It has not previously been described as a sexually transmitted infection, but it can be passed on by close contact.

Guidance is advising anyone with the virus to abstain from sex while they have symptoms.

While there is currently no available evidence that monkeypox can be spread in sexual fluids, people confirmed to have the virus are advised to use condoms for eight weeks after infection as a precaution.

It can also be spread by contact with infected animals such as monkeys, rats and squirrels, or by virus-contaminated objects, such as bedding and clothing.

How dangerous is it?

Most cases of the virus are mild, sometimes resembling chickenpox, and clear up on their own within a few weeks.

Monkeypox can sometimes be more severe, however, and has been reported to have caused deaths in west Africa.

Are gay men at greater risk?

Although some of the cases have been seen in gay and bisexual men, anyone who comes into close contact with someone who has monkeypox could potentially get the virus.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said “a notable proportion” of the recent cases in the UK and Europe have been found in gay and bisexual men “so we are particularly encouraging them to be alert to the symptoms and seek help if concerned”.

How common are outbreaks?

The virus was first identified in a captive monkey and since 1970 there have been sporadic outbreaks reported across 10 African countries.

In 2003 there was an outbreak in the US, the first time it had been seen outside Africa. Patients caught the disease from close contact with prairie dogs that had been infected by small mammals imported into the country. A total of 81 cases were reported, but none resulted in deaths.

In 2017, Nigeria experienced the largest known outbreak. There were 172 suspected cases and 75% of victims were men between 21 and 40 years old.

What is the treatment?

Outbreaks can be controlled by infection prevention.

Vaccination against smallpox has been proven to be 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.

The UK has bought tens of thousands of doses of the smallpox vaccine and some high-risk close contacts of people infected will be offered one to reduce the risk of symptoms appearing.

Antiviral drugs may also help and the UK has approved one, called tecovirimat, for this.

Files from the BBC

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