Avoid kissing and having sex with people suspected of having the Monkeypox disease – GHS warns

The general population has been urged by the Ghana Health Services (GHS) not to kiss or have intercourse with anyone who have monkey pox.

This is to avoid getting the sickness, which the GHS states is communicated by intimate bodily contact.

Following the GHS’s announcement of a suspected case of monkey pox in the Western North Region’s Bia West District, the recommendation was given.

The GHS also reported that 230 cases of monkey pox, or mpox, had been reported in 88 different districts nationwide.

The GHS is advising individuals to exercise caution and adopt precautionary measures.

They recommend that, in order to stop the virus from spreading in the future, anyone exhibiting symptoms like monkey pox should seek quick medical attention.

In an interview with the media on Friday, October 4, 2024, Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Director of Public Health at GHS, also suggested refraining from coming into touch with patients’ clothing.

“The symptoms of mpox include rashes and boils on the body, and the likelihood of contracting the disease is higher when there is body contact,” Dr Asiedu-Bekoe stated.

He said, “It is therefore advisable to avoid having sex and kissing people who are suspected of having the pox disease, as these activities involve close body contact.”

A painful rash, swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, muscular discomfort, back pain, and low energy are all possible symptoms of the viral illness mpox.

Most patients get better completely, while some get severely ill. The monkey pox virus is the cause of mpox (MPXV).