Between June and September 2026, Ghana recorded about 450 suspected yellow fever cases across the country, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disclosed.

Speaking at the Ministry of Health’s Health Sector Update Engagement in Accra, the Minister explained that the Upper West Region accounted for 74 of the cases. He noted that three of the 74 cases recorded in the Upper West Region have so far been confirmed as yellow fever.

“As of yesterday, the suspected cases were around 450 from June to September. Of those, 74 were from the Upper West, and 3 were confirmed from the Upper West. You see, sometimes the health professionals have a way of determining whether or not a death is attributable to a particular disease, but not until it’s confirmed,” he said.

According to him, the government has deployed a National Rapid Response Team to the Upper West Region in response to the suspected yellow fever cases and to support ongoing surveillance, investigation and control measures. He further called on the public and media to avoid creating unnecessary alarm and to support efforts by health authorities to manage the situation, noting that steps were already underway to prevent further spread.

“We don’t have to press the panic buttons. So the media, please, let’s handle it well; there are a lot of things that have been deployed,” he said.

Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is commonly found in tropical areas of Africa and South America and can cause mild illness in some people, while others may develop severe and potentially life-threatening complications.

Symptoms usually appear between three and six days after infection and may include fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting and weakness. In severe cases, patients may develop jaundice, which causes the skin and eyes to turn yellow, as well as bleeding and organ failure.

There is no specific antiviral treatment for yellow fever, with medical care generally focused on managing symptoms and complications. However, the disease is preventable through vaccination and measures to reduce exposure to mosquito bites.

Health authorities advise people in affected areas to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms associated with yellow fever, particularly fever accompanied by jaundice or other severe symptoms.