By Lawrence Odoom
Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has issued a stern caution to the public, urging heightened vigilance against Ebola and underscoring that no approved therapeutic, medication, or vaccine currently exists to combat the lethal virus.
Addressing the latent threat posed by the pathogen, the Minister emphasized the criticality of public sensitization and immediate reporting of suspected cases, noting that prompt clinical intervention remains the most efficacious response mechanism available.
Ebola is primarily zoonotic in origin, transmitted to humans through contact with infected fruit bats or their excreta.
Human-to-human transmission occurs via direct exposure to the blood, bodily fluids, or secretions of an infected individual.
Against this backdrop, Akandoh underscored the gravity of the disease, citing its formidable fatality rate.
He observed that Ebola’s mortality rate oscillates between 30 and 50 percent, rendering it one of the most pernicious viral afflictions globally.
“The reality at the moment is that we don’t have medications or a cure for it, or a vaccine for it, for now. I hear a lot of studies are ongoing to find vaccines, but for now, we don’t have it,” he said in an interview on Joy News on Tuesday June 2.
Drawing parallels with the nascent stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akandoh warned against public complacency, stressing that both authorities and citizens must remain apprised and primed to respond decisively should any cases emerge.
“I do not want us to sit aloof and not create the necessary awareness so that when we detect cases, we are not found wanting. We all have to be aware of what is going on.”
He therefore urged members of the public who exhibit symptoms or suspect exposure to the virus to report immediately to the nearest health facility for assessment and treatment.
His admonition comes amid escalating concern over Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health authorities have confirmed at least 282 infections as containment efforts intensify.