Fear has gripped parts of the Upper West Region following the confirmation of yellow fever after reported mysterious deaths.
Information gathered by The Chronicle indicated that Sissala East Municipal has recorded 30 cases among the Fulbe community, Sissala West District has recorded 2 cases at Jeffisi and Wa Municipal has recorded 4 cases. Wa West District has also recorded 3 cases at Nyoli.
The Sissala East Municipal Health Directorate confirmed the disease last Wednesday, after investigating alleged mysterious deaths of about 21 Fulbe persons in the municipality.
The Municipal Director of Health Services, Mr. Clifford Vengkumwini, told The Chronicle reporter in a phone interview that out of four blood samples sent to Accra for laboratory analysis, one tested positive for yellow fever.
He said the test result established yellow fever as the probable cause of the deaths, though additional investigations are ongoing.
“Out of the 4 blood samples sent to Accra for laboratory analysis, one turned out to be positive for yellow fever,” he pointed out.
He disclosed that six additional samples have since been taken for testing to help determine whether the other cases are also linked to yellow fever or another cause.
Mr. Vengkumwini explained that yellow fever is not transmitted directly from person to person, but through the bite of infected mosquitoes, making it less likely to spread through human contact.
Health authorities have begun a reactive response, including training clinicians to identify and manage suspected cases. According to him, health authorities in Accra will determine whether vaccination should be carried out across the affected areas or targeted at specific groups.
He further disclosed that suspected cases have also been recorded in Sissala West and Wa West, indicating that the disease may not be confined to only Sissala East.
Meanwhile, the Fulbe Chief in Tumu in the Sissala East, Mr. Amidu Tiina, had reported receiving distress calls about over 30 sudden deaths in Fulbe communities, prompting engagement with stakeholders and health authorities.
The Municipal Health Directorate has urged residents to remain calm, report to health facilities when unwell, and rely on verified information from health authorities as investigations continue.
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