Health Ministry confirms 450 suspected yellow fever cases in Ghana

The Ministry of Health has recorded about 450 suspected yellow fever cases between June and September 2026.

Speaking at a media engagement on Wednesday, October 7, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said 74 of the suspected cases were recorded in the Upper West Region, of which three have been confirmed.

According to him, health authorities were exercising caution in assessing the figures because some suspected cases require further laboratory confirmation.

“Suspected cases, we have a limit to which we can test in Ghana. In some cases we take the samples to Senegal to go and confirm,” he said.

Mr. Akandoh also declined to state how many deaths may have been associated with the suspected cases, explaining that health professionals must first determine whether a death can be attributed to yellow fever.

“You see, sometimes the health professionals have a way of determining whether or not a death is attributable to a particular disease,” he said.

He urged the media to avoid creating unnecessary alarm while the verification process continues.

“But not until it’s confirmed, we don’t have to press the panic buttons. So let’s, the media, please let’s handle this well,” he added.

As part of the response, the National Rapid Response Team has been deployed to northern Ghana, particularly the Upper West Region, where suspected cases have been detected.

Mr. Akandoh said some hospital facilities had also been demarcated or isolated to support the management of cases.

He maintained that the situation was being managed and was not yet out of hand.

“And so, please, and with respect to yellow fever, the guideline is that when you report more than one or two, it is enough to declare an outbreak. And so it is not out of hand,” the Minister said.

The Ministry is preparing a comprehensive briefing on the situation and is expected to provide further information to the public.

Mr. Akandoh urged the media and public to rely on official sources as surveillance, testing and response measures continue.