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Ghana records first Mpox-related death
Ghana records first Mpox-related death
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Ghana has recorded its first death from Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, since the disease was first identified in the country in June 2022.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) confirmed the fatality in its latest update, attributing the death to a recent surge in infections.
While the country had previously reported Mpox cases, this is the first time a patient has succumbed to the virus locally. As of July 22, the total number of confirmed Mpox cases in Ghana stands at 257, with 23 new infections added in the latest count.
The rise in cases has been gradual but steady. On July 18, Ghana had confirmed 234 cases, up from 218 on July 14 and 197 on July 11. Health officials have described the trend as manageable but have cautioned the public to remain vigilant and take preventive measures seriously.
Mpox is a viral infection primarily spread through close contact with an infected person. Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and a distinctive rash. Though most cases are mild, health experts advise early medical intervention to prevent complications.
In response to the recent uptick and the death, the GHS is stepping up public awareness campaigns. Citizens are being urged to avoid direct contact with symptomatic individuals, practice regular handwashing, and seek immediate care if symptoms develop.
The government is also scaling up surveillance efforts. Community health workers and field officers are actively tracking suspected cases to contain further spread. Plans are underway to acquire vaccines and improve diagnostic and response systems with the support of global health partners.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana office recently donated essential laboratory supplies to strengthen Mpox testing in the country. The reagents, delivered to the National Public Health Reference Laboratory, are expected to support testing for up to 3,400 suspected cases and assist in clade identification for 625 confirmed samples.
Dr. Caroline Reindorf Amissah, Acting Deputy Director-General of the GHS, welcomed the donation and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to contain the outbreak. “We promise to collaborate, intensify case-finding, and ensure this situation is brought under control,” she said.
WHO Country Representative Dr. Fiona Braka explained that the supplies are aimed at enabling faster diagnoses and timely public health responses. “We hope these reagents will enhance Ghana’s capacity to respond to the Mpox outbreak effectively,” she stated.
Mpox Beyond Ghana
Mpox was first identified in laboratory monkeys in Denmark in 1958, with the first human case recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Since the global eradication of smallpox and the end of vaccination campaigns in 1980, Mpox has steadily re-emerged, especially in parts of Central, West, and East Africa.
The WHO reports that the virus re-emerged in Nigeria in 2017 and went on to cause a global outbreak in 2022, spreading across Europe, the Americas, and all six WHO regions. In 2024, a more transmissible version of the virus—clade Ib—spread in East Africa, while Sierra Leone faces an outbreak linked to clade IIb.
Mpox continues to circulate globally, though at lower levels. As of mid-2025, the WHO notes that between 500 and 1,000 new cases are reported monthly, mostly among men who have sex with men (MSM) and mainly involving clade IIb.
The disease has twice been declared a public health emergency of international concern by WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus—first in May 2022, and again in August 2024. Global health authorities continue to collaborate on research, vaccine rollout, and effective outbreak response strategies.
