The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it is still cautious about the Ebola Virus and has put measures in place to deal with it.
This came to light at a workshop organized by the Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service in Accra.
The Ebola virus disease which is also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola fever) is caused by a virus belonging to the family called Filoviridae.
Ebola can be spread between humans by close contact with infected body fluids or through infected needles in the hospital
A total of 248 clinical cases and 171 deaths have been recorded in Guinea.
Eight cases of suspected Ebola Virus were found out to be negative in Ghana since the first case of Ebola was recorded in Guinea earlier this year.
Speaking at the conference, the Deputy Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Gloria Quansah -Asare who also doubled as the Chairman for the workshop said the workshop was to update the media on steps which have been taken since the outbreak of the Ebola virus.
She further stated her outfit has “sensitized and trained our health workers to be on the alert and now we have to educate the media because you are also the mouth piece and people listen to you. You will also alleviate myths and misconceptions when you know the truth. It is very infectious and lethal it also kills and we need to know how it is spread: as a country, as a community and as a house hold.”
A member of the Ghana Diseases Surveillance Department at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie stated that a person can only be confirmed to be carrying the virus through laboratory testing.
“We can only for sure diagnose Ebola through laboratory testing and we have the capacity to carry out these tests. The Noguchi Memorial Research Institute is well equipped to carry out the tests.”
By: Afriyie Amoakoa Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana