Health analyst Samuel Arthur has urged the Ministry of Health to issue a red alert over the reported increase in yellow fever cases and deaths in Ghana, arguing that stronger public health measures should have been introduced earlier.
His call follows an update from Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, who disclosed that Ghana recorded approximately 450 suspected yellow fever cases between June and September 2026.
Confirmed cases and reported deaths have been recorded, particularly in the Sissala East Municipality in the Upper West Region, where health authorities are monitoring the situation.
Speaking on Starr News, Samuel Arthur questioned why authorities did not intensify public education and outbreak prevention measures earlier, despite indications that the number of suspected cases had been increasing since July.
He said the situation should have triggered an earlier public health response.
“From what the minister is saying, as far back as July to this point, we have these numbers. So what have we been waiting for? Do we always want to have several people lose their lives? Do we want issues to get escalated before we raise our flags and raise a red alert?” he asked.
Yellow Fever Outbreak Raises Public Health Concerns
Arthur said Ghana should have applied lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen disease surveillance and ensure that potential outbreaks are identified and addressed at an early stage.
According to him, Ghana’s public health surveillance systems should be capable of detecting warning signs before a disease outbreak becomes widespread.
“I thought we had learned a lot of lessons from COVID and how it devastated our communities. And I felt that our surveillance systems had been sharpened to the point that it could pick some of these signals just at the point where these outbreaks come in,” he said.
The health analyst also questioned what had been happening in communities in the affected areas and why the reported cases were not flagged more aggressively at an earlier stage.
He called for increased public education, community awareness campaigns, community engagement and mosquito control measures to help reduce the spread of yellow fever.
Calls for Stronger Mosquito Control Measures
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease, making vector control an important part of outbreak prevention.
Arthur said authorities should intensify measures aimed at reducing mosquito populations in affected communities while providing residents with clear information about how to protect themselves.
He also acknowledged concerns among residents about the severity of the disease, particularly because some of its haemorrhagic symptoms have reportedly been compared by community members to serious infectious diseases such as Ebola and COVID-19.
Reports regarding the number of deaths have varied. While figures of about seven deaths have circulated, some local traditional leaders have reportedly cited a significantly higher figure of approximately 30.
Arthur stressed that every reported death should be treated seriously regardless of the final confirmed figure.
“For me every life matters, and I don’t know when the minister wants to raise the red alert and let us know that this thing is quite damaging. Losing one life is not something we should countenance,” he stated.
Health Authorities Urged to Communicate Clearly
While acknowledging efforts by the Health Minister to reassure the public, Arthur said authorities must provide clear and timely information about the yellow fever situation in Ghana.
He urged health officials to identify high-risk communities, explain the scale of the outbreak and provide residents with practical guidance on the steps they should take to protect themselves.
The health analyst’s comments have renewed calls for stronger disease surveillance, yellow fever prevention, mosquito control and public health education, particularly in communities where suspected and confirmed cases have been reported.
Source: newsthemegh.com