Mysterious skin disease in Ghana: 46 cases

Local authorities in Ghana’s Volta Region are calling for government support to deal with the outbreak of a mysterious skin disease. The outbreak mainly involved the Avetakpo farming community, and the disease remains unidentified. Over 46 people have been hit by it, with symptoms such as intense body pain and sleeplessness. In an appeal, sub-divisional chief Togbe Kwasi Amedor III said that affected families could not afford medical care and asked for help from the government. He also noted the lack of clean drinking water in the Avetakpo community, which increases the risk of contamination. He urged the government and health authorities to act swiftly, funding immediate treatment, investing in clean water infrastructure, and investigating the disease’s origin.
The Ho East District Health Directorate has estimated a cost of over GH₵ 6000 to treat those currently suffering from the disease, a sum well beyond residents’ means. However, without a proper identification of the illness, treatment and prevention measures remain stalled.