Ministry of Health declares public health emergency over Polio detection

The Ministry of Health has declared a public health emergency following the detection of a circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) in an environmental sample from Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

The sample was detected by the Polio Laboratory at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), which serves as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Polio Laboratory. The laboratory conducts routine surveillance for polio in Ghana.

In a statement issued on September 16, 2024 the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye revealed that the sample was collected on August 20, 2024.

Initial testing on September 3 indicated the presence of poliovirus, which was later confirmed as cVDPV2 on September 5, 2024.

"This detection of environmental polio constitutes a public health emergency," Dr. Okoe Boye stated.

He added that the Ghana Health Service has initiated several measures to address the situation, including field investigations to trace the source of the infection, assess its geographical spread, evaluate the risk of further transmission to humans, enhance surveillance, and improve public communication.

Dr. Okoe Boye also urged the public to practise better personal hygiene and maintain good sanitation to reduce the risk of transmission.

"We wish to assure the 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," he added.