The
Ghana
Health
Service
(GHS)
has
announced
the
outbreak
of
clinical
malaria,
known
as
Dengue
Fever,
in
some
districts
of
the
Eastern
Region.
According
to
the
GHS,
a
total
of
nine
cases
have
been
confirmed
after
samples
were
sent
to
the
Noguchi
Memorial
Institute
for
Medical
Research
(NMIMR).
A
statement
signed
by
Dr.
Patrick
Kuma-Aboagye,
Director-General
of
GHS,
explained
that
these
cases
did
not
respond
to
antimalarial
treatment
and
were
therefore
managed
as
acute
febrile
illnesses.
“The
national
surveillance
system
detected
unusual
cases
of
clinical
malaria
in
some
districts
of
the
Eastern
Region.
These
cases
were
not
responding
to
antimalarial
treatment
and
were
therefore
managed
as
acute
febrile
illness
and
samples
sent
to
Noguchi
Memorial
Institute
for
Medical
Research
(NMIMR).
A
total
of
nine
of
such
cases
have
been
confirmed
as
Dengue
Fever.”
The
GHS
said
a
team
from
the
national
level,
comprising
entomologists
and
epidemiologists,
has
joined
the
regional
team
to
undertake
a
detailed
investigation
into
the
outbreak.
The
Service
has
therefore
directed
Regional
Directors
of
Health
Service
and
Chief
Executive
Officers
of
Teaching
Hospitals
to
communicate
this
information
to
all
health
workers.
Below
is
the
full
statement
by
GHS
The
national
surveillance
system
detected
unusual
cases
of
clinical
malaria
in
some
districts
of
the
Eastern
Region.
These
cases
were
not
responding
to
antimalarial
treatment
and
were
therefore
managed
as
acute
febrile
illness
and
samples
sent
to
Noguchi
Memorial
Institute
for
Medical
Research
(NMIMR).
A
total
of
nine
of
such
cases
have
been
confirmed
as
Dengue
Fever.
Following
that
a
team
from
the
national
level
made
up
of
entomologists
and
epidemiologists
have
joined
the
regional
team
to
undertake
a
detailed
outbreak
investigation.
We
request
Regional
Directors
of
Health
Service
and
Chief
Executive
Officers
of
Teaching
Hospitals
to
ensure
this
Alert
on
Dengue
Fever
is
communicated
to
all
health
workers
in
the
respective
Regions,
Districts
and
Hospitals,
including
the
Mission
and
Private
Facilities.
This
is
to
enhance
surveillance
on
Dengue
Fever
and
all
clinical
malaria
cases
need
to
have
laboratory
confirmation.
Cases
meeting
the
case
definition
of
Dengue
Fever
are
to
have
blood
samples
taken
and
transported
to
NMIMR
for
confirmation.
The
surveillance
case
definition
for
Dengue
Fever
is
as
follows:
Suspected
case:
Any
person
with
acute
febrile
illness
of
2-7
days
duration
with
2
or
more
of
the
following:
headache,
retro-orbital
pain,
myalgia,
arthralgia,
rash,
haemorrhagic
manifestations,
leukopenia.
Confirmed
case:
A
suspected
case
with
laboratory
confirmation
(positive
IgM
antibody,
four-fold
or
greater
rise
in
IgG
antibody
titres,
positive
PCR
or
viral
isolation).
In
severe
forms
of
the
disease
i.e.
Dengue
Haemorrhagic
Fever
and
Dengue
Shock
Syndrome,
the
following
apply:
Dengue
Haemorrhagic
Fever:
A
probable
or
confirmed
case
of
dengue
with
bleeding
tendencies
as
evidenced
by
one
or
more
of
the
following:
positive
tourniquet
test;
petechiae,
ecchymoses
or
purpura;
bleeding:
mucosa,
gastrointestinal
tract,
injection
sites
Dengue
Shock
Syndrome:
All
the
above
criteria,
plus
evidence
of
circulatory
failure
manifested
by
rapid
and
weak
pulse,
and
narrow
pulse
pressure
(≤
20
mm
Hg)
or
hypotension
for
age,
cold,
clammy
skin
and
altered
mental
status.
We
further
request
Regional
Directors
of
Health
Service
to
initiate
process
to
create
public
awareness
on
Dengue
Fever
on
the
following:
–
Avoiding
mosquito
bites
by
sleeping
under
mosquito
nets
and
wearing
appropriate
clothing.
–
Destroying
mosquito
breeding
sites
by
eliminating
standing
water
where
mosquitoes
can
lay
eggs.
–
Proper
waste
management
around
homes
to
reduce
potential
breeding
grounds.
Thank
you.
DR
PATRICK
KUMA-ABOAGYE
DIRECTOR
GENERAL
Cc:
Hon
Minister
of
Health
Hon
Deputy
Ministers
of
Health
Chief
Director
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