The Ministry of Health has clarified that no case of the Ebola virus disease has been recorded in Ghana or elsewhere in West Africa, as the current emergent outbreak is strictly localized to parts of Central and East Africa (specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda).
The Ministry urged the public to remain vigilant and strictly observe safety protocols following a global health alert issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The Ministry issued the advisory after the WHO declared the recent Ebola outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), citing the risk of cross-border transmission and the severity of the disease.
In a public advisory signed by the Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on Monday, May 19, the Ministry described Ebola as a severe and often fatal illness transmitted through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions, organs, or contaminated materials of infected persons.
Despite the absence of confirmed cases in Ghana, the Ministry advised the public to remain calm but cautious by adhering to preventive measures, especially during public gatherings and events.
The advisory encouraged individuals to carry hand sanitisers and maintain proper hand hygiene at all times, while event organisers were urged to provide handwashing stations and sanitisers at public events.
The Ministry also recommended frequent handwashing with soap under running water or the use of alcohol-based sanitisers. Homes, schools, markets, workplaces, public spaces, and points of entry have all been advised to maintain adequate handwashing facilities.
“Although there have been no reported cases in West Africa, including Ghana, the public is advised to remain calm but vigilant and to adhere to the following safety precautions strictly. Conduct in Public Activities and Mass Gatherings – Currently, the public is advised to take universal precautions at all times. Individuals must carry their own hand sanitisers and practice good hand hygiene. Event organisers should provide sanitisers and handwashing stations at all events,” the advisory advised.
The public was further cautioned against spreading rumours or misinformation and encouraged to rely solely on information from official government and health authorities.
According to the Ministry, anyone experiencing symptoms such as sudden fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, or bleeding should immediately report to the nearest health facility for medical attention.
The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service said surveillance, screening, preparedness, and response measures have been intensified in collaboration with national and international partners to safeguard public health.
The Ministry stressed that public cooperation remains critical in preventing any possible spread of the disease.
The World Health Organisation on Monday, May 18, declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern.
The agency said the outbreak in DR Congo’s eastern Ituri province, which has seen around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency.
But it warned it could potentially be “a much larger outbreak” than what is currently being detected and reported, with significant risk of local and regional spread.
The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency said, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines.
In a proactive move to safeguard domestic public health, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on May 18, issued a temporary, time-limited emergency order designed to systematically shield the United States from an emergent Ebola outbreak in Central and East Africa.
The strategic action temporarily suspends the entry of certain non-U.S. travellers arriving from outbreak-affected areas, establishing a vital public health buffer while maintaining full entry rights for American citizens, residents, and key personnel.
