According to the service, no death has been recorded.

The Ghana Health Service has however attributed the surge in Cholera cases in the region to improper handling of meats and food stuff bought from the markets.

Dr. Kweku Eni Karikari, the Deputy Central Regional Health Director told Citi News, the Health directorate is collaborating with the various assemblies to address the situation.

“[Those affected] are a little more than 500. It started around 24^th October so since that time we started recorded cases. Cases were reported in Cape Coast and a few districts around.”

“We have now given the assemblies some guidelines so they put in place some measures.”

He also called on the public be caution of the foods they consume.

5000 Cholera cases recorded in Accra in 2015

About 5000 cases of Cholera and 45 deaths were reported in the Greater Accra Region alone in 2014.

The figure was said to be very high as compared to previous years.

‘About Cholera’

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the cholera bacterium. It is reported that about 1.3 to 4.0 million cases of cholera are recorded ever year.

‘Symptoms of Cholera’

Common symptoms of Cholera includes, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting and dehydration.

‘How to prevent Cholera’

1. Drink and use safe water

2. Wash your hands often with soap and safe water

3. Use proper toilet facilities or bury your faeces; do not defecate in any water body.

4. Cook your foods well; keep it covered, eat it hot

5. Clean your hands before you handle fruits and vegetables

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mr. Afriyie Asubonteng, the Disease Control Officer, said although there had not been any reported case, they would not take any chances.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7TkwVTXkeW63TJpcfdZW7JYhLqq12kTE”]In an interview in Kumasi, he said that the health directorate had put in place clinical measures and put together the necessary logistics to deal with any emergency.

The assurance comes amid the reported outbreak of the acute diarrhoeal disease in Cape Coast, with a total of 172 cases having been recorded as of November 02.

Mr. Asubonteng spoke of community outreach programme to help the people to maintain good personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

This was being done by a team of community health nurses, disease control officers and environmental health officers.

He added that they were encouraging people to eat their food hot, saying, “taking hot foods could kill the bacteria in the food and it is therefore vital that food is eaten hot to prevent an infection”.

Mr. Asubonteng said the various health facilities in the districts have been alerted to run a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) for cholera in all diarrhea cases presented to them facilities.

He indicated that the facilities had also been equipped with adequate drugs, ward beds and other logistics.

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Source: GNA

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Over 150 cases have so far been recorded with no deaths.

Speaking at a press conference today, the Head of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie, explained that the public health emergency management committee has been activated to deal with the situation.

“We have confirmed a cholera outbreak at Cape Coast metropolis in the Central Region. The outbreak started on 21^st October this year with the first case reported at Cape Coast University on that date,” Dr. Sarkodie noted.

Whilst the the treatment centres have been set up, Dr. Sarkodie said, “we still think the population continues to be at risk. The affected population continues to be at risk and for that matter; there is the need to intensify whatever we are doing.”

He explained further the measures being put in place highlighting that, “surveillance and laboratory confirmation is very important so that we know what we are dealing with so we are taking steps with every suspected case. We first do rapid diagnostics tests to know exactly what we are handling.”

“All regions and districts have been put on high alert and we have sent alerts to all the regions and districts through the regional health directorate and district health directorate,” Dr. Sarkodie added.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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