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The Ministry of Health has warned of an outbreak of yellow fever in the West Gonja District of the Northern region.

A total of 12 cases have been reported out of which three have since died.
The Head of Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Frank Bekoe have said adequate stocks of anti-biotics have been provided to combat the outbreak.

“Management of this outbreak does not require vaccination, so what normally we do is that with early detection, we treat with anti-biotocs,” he told Accra based radio station, Citi FM.

He said people were dying because they were reporting late to the facilities. Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It can kill up to 50 percent of victims if adequate treatment is not administered.

The Ministry of Health in a statement said the public must be wary when travelling to the Northern Region district. It said the disease comes with fever, jaundice, muscle pain with prominent backache, and headache.

There may also be bleeding tendencies. Symptoms appear after an incubation period of 3 to 6 days following the bite of the mosquito. The public is therefore advised that people showing symptoms must report to the nearest health facility.