The Ministry of Health / Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), through routine surveillance activities on Polio, has detected and confirmed Poliovirus type 2 from an environmental sample in the Tamale Metropolis, Northern Region. This constitutes Public Health Emergency.
In response to this, the Ministry of Health, together with partners, has initiated the following actions that are ongoing:
- Detail field investigation to identify a possible source of infection and determine the extent of geographic spread
- Risk assessment and potential for further spread, including transmission to humans
- Surveillance enhancement
- Advocacy and Communication & Social Mobilization
As part of measures to prevent further spread and protect against the spread to humans. the general public is encouraged to observe improved personal hygiene and good sanitation practices. including:
- Wash your hands often with soap under safe running water,
- After using the toilet facility
- Before you prepare food
- Before eating or before feeding your baby
- Before serving meals
- After playing
- Use toilet facility or bury your faeces;
- Do not defecate in the open
- Clean toilet and surfaces contaminated with faeces with disinfectant
- Parents/caregivers of infants are encouraged to complete the instituted vaccination schedule to protect their wards.
We wish to assure the general public that, the Ministry of Health together with its partners is doing everything possible to prevent the further spread of the virus from the environment to humans.
Signed:
Chief Director, MOH
