The Ashanti region has for the first time recorded five confirmed cholera cases in three districts.
The Sekyere South district has the highest number of cholera cases with three confirmed cases, while Kumasi and Bekwai have recorded one case each as of December 28, 2024.
Out of a total of 28 cumulative suspected cases, five returned positive during laboratory tests.
The Ashanti region joins the Western, Greater Accra, and Central regions, which have all recorded fatal cholera cases in recent times.
Health authorities until now remained on high alert following outbreaks in these regions, which they say share so many things in common with the Ashanti region.
The situation has put the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate on its toes as the directorate summoned all stakeholders to a Public Health Emergency Operations Centre meeting to address the situation.
Among participating stakeholders were the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), environmental officers at both regional and district levels, water and sanitation, and all district, municipal, and metropolitan health directors.
Regional teams were assigned to support district teams to continue active surveillance and implement recommended actions while regional and district public health emergency committees in all affected districts have been activated.
But the Regional Health Directorate has allayed the fear of residents after the directorate disinfected households of all cases, isolated cases, and traced and confined all contacts as part of measures to reduce further spread.
After initial assessment in all affected communities, including Bekwai and Sekyere South Districts, it came out that all confirmed cases reside in confined areas and do not use public washrooms.
Authorities of the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate, led by Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, are strengthening sensitisation and training regimes for all healthcare workers on case definition, case findings, and contact tracing.
The directorate has also activated surveillance and case search in affected districts.
Meanwhile, all five confirmed cases have recovered with all cases having recovered with the last patient being discharged on December 24, 2024.
Cholera cases were first reported this year in the Western Region where out of over 100 cases, some 15 people have been confirmed dead.
