Mrs Wilhemina Tiwaah Duah Morttey, Municipal Health Director of Tarkwa Nsuaem, has cautioned Ghanaians to be mindful of their sexual activities to contain the mpox outbreak.
She said emerging research suggested that the virus spread more through sexual contact and based on that the directorate had started awareness creation.
“We have already started sensitization at the Tarkwa Railway station area, residents are cooperating with the directorate, including those in the ghettos” she stated.
Educating the public on mpox outbreak, Mrs Morttey revealed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that “It’s not everyone who get infected have rashes all over the body. The rashes could be in the mouth, palm, sole of the feet and sometimes the genitals”.
She said the situation was complicated, especially in informal settings like illegal mining sites where hygiene and safety protocols were often neglected, stressing that, “People go about wearing other people’s dresses will be prone to this infection”.
Mrs Morttey advised those using shared bathrooms to be extra careful as fluid from the rash was contagious and even the skin particles shed during the healing process also posed a transmission risk.
To minimize risk, the Municipal Health Director, entreated those who used public toilet to clean the seat thoroughly with chlorine disinfectant prior to use.
She said “Some individuals hide their condition for fear of being isolated when seeking medical care. Please cooperate with healthcare professionals if they recommend isolation because the disease is highly contagious”.
Mrs Morttey lamented that “Despite ongoing education by health personnel in the municipality, some people are complacent due to the perceived low mortality rate. Given the rising cases in neighbouring countries, we are taking a proactive stance to reach everyone and prevent similar escalation”.
According to her, the directorate would continue to maintain a strong in-person education effort to ensure the public remains well-informed about this new condition.
She charged the public to keep washing their hands with soap under running water and adhered to the CONVID-19 protocols.
So, far the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed three positive cases in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality, with three more cases being investigated.