The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an alert following the confirmation of nine cases of Dengue Fever in the Eastern Region.

This announcement comes after unusual cases of clinical malaria were detected, which did not respond to antimalarial treatment, prompting further investigation.

Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the GHS in the alert requested all Regional Directors of Health Service and Chief Executives of Teaching Hospitals to disseminate the alert to all health workers within their regions and facilities, including mission and private establishments. This step aims to enhance surveillance and ensure all suspected malaria cases undergo laboratory confirmation.

The detected Dengue Fever cases were confirmed at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) after samples were sent from patients exhibiting acute febrile illnesses. Following this, a team comprising entomologists and epidemiologists has joined the regional team to conduct a detailed outbreak investigation.

Surveillance and case definitions

Health workers have been advised to be vigilant and adhere to the surveillance case definitions for Dengue Fever. A suspected case is defined as any person with an acute febrile illness of 2-7 days duration accompanied by two or more of the following symptoms: headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, rash, haemorrhagic manifestations, or leukopenia.

A confirmed case requires laboratory confirmation through positive IgM antibody, a four-fold or greater rise in IgG antibody titres, positive PCR, or viral isolation.

For severe forms of the disease, the definitions include:

- Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever: A probable or confirmed case of dengue with bleeding tendencies, evidenced by positive tourniquet test, petechiae, ecchymoses or purpura, mucosal bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, or bleeding from injection sites.

- Dengue Shock Syndrome: A probable or confirmed case with evidence of circulatory failure, manifested by a rapid and weak pulse, narrow pulse pressure (≤ 20 mm Hg), hypotension for age, cold and clammy skin, and altered mental status.

Public Awareness and Preventive Measures

The GHS has also called for immediate public awareness campaigns on Dengue Fever. Key preventive measures include:

- Avoiding mosquito bites by using mosquito nets and wearing appropriate clothing.

- Eliminating mosquito breeding sites by removing standing water where mosquitoes can lay eggs.

- Proper waste management around homes to reduce potential mosquito breeding grounds.

The GHS urges the public to remain vigilant and adhere to these preventive measures to curb the spread of Dengue Fever.