Stay alert, Ebola has no cure or vaccine yet – Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh cautions Ghanaians

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has cautioned the public to remain vigilant against Ebola, warning that there is currently no approved cure, medication, or vaccine available to treat the deadly disease.

Speaking on the threat posed by the virus, the Health Minister stressed the importance of public awareness and early reporting of suspected cases, noting that prompt medical attention remains the most effective response mechanism available.

Ebola is primarily transmitted from animals to humans, particularly through contact with infected fruit bats or their droppings, but individuals can also contract the disease through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or secretions of an infected person.

Against this backdrop, Akandoh underscored the severity of the disease, pointing to its high fatality rate. He noted that Ebola’s mortality rate ranges between 30 and 50%, making it one of the most dangerous viral diseases in the world.

“The reality at the moment is that we don’t have medications or a cure for it, or a vaccine for it, for now. I hear a lot of studies are ongoing to find vaccines, but for now, we don’t have it,” he said in an interview on Joy News on Tuesday June 2.

Drawing parallels with the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Akandoh warned against complacency, stressing that authorities and the public must stay informed and prepared to respond swiftly should any cases emerge.

“I do not want us to sit aloof and not create the necessary awareness so that when we detect cases, we are not found wanting. We all have to be aware of what is going on.”

He, therefore, urged members of the public who experience symptoms or suspect exposure to the virus to report immediately to the nearest  health facility for assessment and treatment.

His comments come amid growing concern over Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where health authorities have confirmed at least 282 infections as efforts continue to contain the outbreak.