Yellow fever confirmed in Sissala East after 21 mysterious deaths

The Sissala East Municipal Health Directorate has confirmed yellow fever in the municipality following some alleged mysterious deaths recorded in the area.

The alleged mysterious deaths of about 21 Fulbe persons in the municipality triggered an investigation by the Health Directorate to ascertain the cause of the deaths.

Samples of some of the affected persons were subsequently transmitted to the national laboratory in Accra for testing.

Mr Clifford Vengkumwini, the Sissala East Municipal Director of Health Services, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Tumu that: “Out of the 4 blood samples sent to Accra for laboratory analysis, one turned out to be positive for yellow fever.”

He said the test results established yellow fever as the probable cause of the deaths.

Mr Vengkumwini said health authorities have since taken an additional six samples for testing to help determine whether the recent cases were also linked to yellow fever or another cause.

He explained that yellow fever was not transmitted directly from person to person, noting that it made the current situation less likely to be spread through human contact.

He, however, said health authorities had begun a reactive response, including training clinicians to identify and manage suspected cases following the confirmation.

“This was taken up after the clinician sensitisation we conducted with our officers”, he explained.

According to him, health authorities in Accra would determine whether vaccination should be carried out across the affected area or targeted at specific groups.

Mr Vengkumwini further disclosed that suspected cases had also been recorded in the Sissala West and Wa West areas, indicating that the disease may not be confined to only the Sissala East Municipality.

He explained that yellow fever is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which can acquire the virus from infected primates such as monkeys and subsequently transmit it to humans.

The District Health Director advised the people to sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets and take other measures to reduce mosquito bites and help break the chain of transmission.

He urged residents to remain calm while the national health authorities assess the situation and determine the next steps, including whether a vaccination exercise will be required.

The Fulbe community welcomed the interest shown by the health officials and expected them to intervene quickly to save lives.

GNA