Ghana is currently facing a seasonal influenza outbreak, with confirmed cases of both H1N1 and H3N2 subtypes of the Influenza A virus in several regions.
Health officials have confirmed that the Central and Eastern Regions are experiencing outbreaks of the H1N1 strain, while the Greater Accra Region has recorded 42 confirmed cases of the H3N2 subtype.
The outbreak, according to health experts, aligns with the annual flu season, which typically peaks during the colder months. The virus is known to spread rapidly in crowded environments, particularly through respiratory droplets when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or speak.
“Some regions are reporting H1N1 cases. Central and Eastern Regions are currently affected,” said Christiana Kudornu Achempem, Regional Disease Control Surveillance Officer. “In Greater Accra, we haven’t had an outbreak in schools, but we have confirmed 42 H3N2 cases through routine sampling at our sentinel sites.”
The affected areas within Greater Accra include Ayawaso East and Okaikoi North, where samples were collected and tested at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. So far, no H1N1 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Source: metrotvonline.com