Ghana has reported its first death from Mpox, health authorities confirmed Sunday, as the country faces a sharp rise in new infections. Twenty-three new cases were recorded in the past week, bringing the total to 257 since the virus was first detected in Ghana in June 2022.

 

 

 

This marks the highest weekly increase since the outbreak began and the first fatality reported in the country.

 

 

 

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh told AFP that the situation is under control. He emphasized that early detection and responsible behaviour are crucial to limiting the outbreak.

 

 

 

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, is a viral infection related to smallpox. It causes fever, body aches, and distinct skin lesions, and can be deadly. The disease spreads through close physical contact with infected individuals or contaminated materials.

 

 

 

A Ghanaian government agency responsible for public health is expected to receive Mpox vaccines from the World Health Organization this week. Franklyn Asiedu-Bekoe, a director with the agency, said that at-risk populations have been identified and vaccination will begin as soon as doses arrive.

 

 

 

The outbreak in Ghana reflects a broader trend across West Africa, where health officials are struggling to contain the disease. Thousands of cases have been reported this year in the region, including Sierra Leone, which recorded 3,350 cases and 16 deaths between January and late May.

 

 

 

Other countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Burundi have also reported thousands of cases this year, according to the World Health Organization. Africa CDC data released last week shows over 47,000 confirmed cases and 221 deaths across the continent since January last year, with at least 27,000 cases recorded in 2025 alone.

 

 

 

Last month, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the virus an international health emergency amid the rising number of cases in West Africa.