Ashanti Region records first Cholera cases across three districts

The Ashanti Region has reported its first five confirmed cholera cases, spanning three districts. The Sekyere South District has the highest incidence with three cases, while Kumasi and Bekwai have each recorded one case as of December 28, 2024.

Out of 28 suspected cases, laboratory tests confirmed five positive cases.

The region now joins the Western, Greater Accra, and Central Regions, all of which have experienced fatal cholera outbreaks in recent months. Nationwide, a total of 4,155 suspected cases have been recorded since October 2024, with 35 fatalities as of December 23, 2024.

Health authorities in the Ashanti Region have heightened their alert due to the outbreak’s spread. In response, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate convened an emergency meeting at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre. Participants included representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), environmental health officers, water and sanitation departments, and health directors from district, municipal, and metropolitan areas.

To curb the spread, the Regional Health Directorate has taken the following measures:

• Disinfecting the homes of confirmed cases.
• Isolating affected individuals and tracing their contacts.
• Strengthening public health surveillance and response efforts in collaboration with district teams.
• Mobilizing public health emergency committees in affected areas.

An initial assessment of impacted communities in Bekwai and Sekyere South revealed that all confirmed cases were confined to specific areas, and none of the affected individuals used public restrooms.

The Regional Health Directorate, led by Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, has also intensified awareness campaigns and training for healthcare workers on case definitions, identification, and contact tracing.

The cholera outbreak was first reported in the Western Region earlier this year, where over 100 cases were documented, leading to 15 fatalities.