Ghana's Health Service has dispatched a Rapid Response Team to the Oti Region following a sharp rise in typhoid fever cases, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The deployment—carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Oti Regional Coordinating Council—comes amid growing public health concerns in several districts, including Biakoye, Krachi East, Krachi West, and Krachi Nchumuru.
In a statement, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) described the situation as “a public health concern” and said efforts were underway to assess the outbreak and support local health teams.
“The Service, with support from the Ministry, has deployed the National Case Management Rapid Response Team to support the regional team to ascertain the situation,” the GHS said.
Typhoid fever, which is endemic in Ghana, is caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacterium and is commonly spread through contaminated food or water. Symptoms typically include fever, chills, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.
The GHS has urged residents in affected areas to observe strict hygiene practices and take precautions to avoid infection. These include:
Boiling water before drinking
Washing hands with soap under running water
Avoiding open defecation near water sources
Cooking food thoroughly and storing it properly
Avoiding food sold in unhygienic conditions
Participating in community clean-up campaigns
Dr. Caroline Reindorf Amissah, Acting Deputy Director-General of the GHS, called for calm and cooperation.
“We wish to entreat the public to remain calm and follow expert advice from the medical personnel on the ground,” she said.
Health officials say they are monitoring the situation closely as the response continues.
