The case was suspected, but the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) confirmed it on Friday, July 22, in the Upper East Region.
Dr. Emmanuel Kofi Dzotsi, the Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, stated in a statement over the weekend that "this is the first verified case in the region."
The confirmed case, who had a history of fever and skin rash, was examined on July 22, 2022, at the Upper East Regional Hospital.
Sadly, the [patient] passed away on July 26, 2022.
"Samples were collected on July 22, 2022, at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra for confirmation. On July 28, 2022, we received word that the sample had tested positive for the monkeypox sickness.
So far, 13 contacts have been located and are being kept an eye on.
The Health Directorate reports that surveillance has also been set up in the Region and that all health emergency response teams have been alerted to contain the sickness.
As of Sunday, July 31, no additional cases had been reported, according to Dr. Kofi Dzotsi's statement.
On Friday, July 22, the World Health Organization designated the monkeypox outbreak a worldwide emergency.
Since Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), revealed the first five cases on Wednesday, June 8, Ghana has so far recorded more than 30 cases.
