A health official reported to Reuters that testing is underway to determine if a recent case in Ghana involves the Clade Ib variant of the Mpox virus, which has raised global alarm due to its rapid spread and limited knowledge about the strain.
Ghana has previously reported cases of Mpox in 2022 and 2023. The patient is described as a young man exhibiting symptoms such as fever, rash, and body aches. Authorities have identified and are monitoring 25 contacts of the patient.
The World Health Organization declared Mpox a global health emergency for the second time in two years in August, following an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that spread to neighboring countries.
Two strains of Mpox are circulating: the Clade I variant, endemic to parts of West and Central Africa, and the new Clade Ib variant, which spreads more easily through close contact, including sexual transmission.