Ghana’s health service has reported its first mpox case of the year, with further testing underway to determine whether it is the more concerning clade Ib variant, which is spreading rapidly worldwide. The specific variant has not yet been disclosed, according to an official statement.
A health official told Reuters that the testing aims to identify if the virus is clade Ib, the strain that has triggered global concern due to its fast spread and limited understanding. Ghana had previously recorded mpox cases in both 2022 and 2023.
The patient, described as a young male, exhibited symptoms including fever, rash, and body pains. Health authorities have identified 25 contacts who are currently being monitored.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in two years in August, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has since spread to neighboring countries.
There are currently two strains of the virus in circulation—the endemic clade I variant and the clade Ib variant, which is more easily transmitted through close contact, including sexual activity.
