The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has held a training session for media personnel on Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Accra on May 22, 2014, with a report that eight Ebola cases have been recorded.
The Deputy Director-General, Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Gloria Quansah, reiterated the importance of media in helping to disseminate information about the disease.
Dr Quansah also urged Ghanaians to be health- conscious by ensuring that their surroundings are kept very clean as well as meals eaten hot.
The Head of Disease Surveillance Department of the GHS, Dr Badu Sarkodie, said eight suspected cases of the disease were reported early this year from the Greater Accra, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions.
He added that Ebola tests conducted in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions proved negative while those of the Brong Ahafo had some traces of infection of the Ebola virus.
Dr Badu further said though no direct traces of the disease or cases of infections have been found in the country, he warned that �Ghanaians must be careful of what they eat and how they handle meat products.�
The Head of the Surveillance Department explained that animals like bats, gorillas, antelopes and monkeys, when found in their weak states could be a symptom of an Ebola attack �since these animals are noted to be high risk carriers of the virus.�
He said a person infected with the Ebola virus may recover but could be at risk of re-infection and for which medical personnel place such persons on observation for at least 60 days.
The International Health Regulations Focal Person, Michael Adjabeng, said the Ministry of Health of Guinea as at May 15, 2014 reported a cumulative total of 248 clinical cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) including 171 deaths.
He added that existing surveillance system for viral haemorrhagic fever (EVD) surveillance in Ghana had been placed on the alert.
According to medical experts, high body temperature and bleeding are some symptoms of the killer disease.
The disease is very infectious, kills in a short time but cannot be prevented.
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