Ghana is grappling with a cholera outbreak that has, as of January 21, 2025, claimed 43 lives and infected 480 individuals. The outbreak, which commenced in October 2024, has spread across five regions: Greater Accra, Central, Western, Eastern, and Ashanti. While the majority of the 5,527 suspected cases have been mild, delays in seeking treatment have contributed to fatalities. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) reports that 30 individuals remain hospitalized. The outbreak underscores the persistent challenges of access to clean water, sanitation, and timely healthcare access in affected regions. The current case fatality rate stands at 1.2%, a stark reminder of the potential severity of the disease, especially when treatment is delayed.
The Western Region has been a particular focus of the outbreak response, with a sub-national Oral Cholera Vaccination campaign successfully completed in 18 sub-districts across four hotspot districts (Sekondi-Takoradi, Effia Kwesimintsim, Shama, and Ahanta West). This campaign reached over 596,000 individuals. The GHS emphasizes the importance of early reporting of symptoms to prevent complications and fatalities, noting that many deaths have occurred because individuals attempted self-medication or delayed seeking professional medical help for several days after the onset of symptoms. The presence of cholera in neighboring countries also poses a challenge, as it facilitates cross-border transmission and makes complete eradication more difficult.
Several factors contribute to the spread of cholera in the affected regions. These include a lack of access to clean water sources, the persistent practice of open defecation, and poor hand hygiene practices among communities. These underlying issues highlight the need for comprehensive interventions that address not only the immediate health crisis but also the long-term social and infrastructural deficiencies that contribute to the vulnerability of these communities. While Ghana had not experienced a major cholera outbreak between 2017 and 2023, a few indigenous cases were reported, indicating the persistent presence of the bacteria and the potential for outbreaks under conducive conditions.
Cholera, an acute diarrheal infection caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, is typically contracted through the consumption of contaminated food or water. Its symptoms range from mild to severe, with the latter characterized by profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting, and rapid dehydration. Untreated, severe cholera can lead to death within hours. While most infected individuals may not display symptoms, they can still shed the bacteria in their feces for up to 10 days, posing a significant risk of further transmission. This asymptomatic carriage underscores the importance of public health measures to prevent contamination and control the spread of the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes cholera as a global health threat, highlighting the link between the disease and social inequities, particularly inadequate sanitation and access to clean water. These conditions are prevalent in peri-urban slums and internally displaced persons camps, which are often disproportionately affected by cholera outbreaks. The current outbreak in Ghana reinforces the WHO’s assessment and emphasizes the urgency of addressing these underlying issues to mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.
The Ghana Health Service has issued a series of public health advisories to combat the outbreak and educate the public on preventive measures. These recommendations include consuming only safe, treated water; ensuring that food is well-cooked and handled hygienically; avoiding close contact with infected individuals; practicing meticulous hand hygiene, including frequent handwashing with soap and water; ensuring proper disposal of feces; and, crucially, reporting any instances of profuse diarrhea and vomiting to the nearest health facility without delay. These measures, if widely adopted, can significantly reduce the risk of transmission and help contain the outbreak. The GHS continues to monitor the situation closely and implement control measures, while emphasizing the importance of public cooperation in adhering to these guidelines.
