Medical practitioner and founder of Dinah Gayle Medical, Dr Sompa Otabil Nelson, has observed that yellow fever outbreaks in Ghana appear to follow a recurring five-year cycle, citing outbreaks recorded in 2011, 2016 and 2021.
Speaking to Joshua Kodjo Mensah on Morning Starr on Starr FM, Dr Sompa Otabil-Nelson said the pattern suggests that 2026 fits into the recurring cycle of yellow fever outbreaks recorded in the country.
She said although the pattern is concerning, the expectation is that the current situation will not develop into a severe outbreak.
“When you look at the history of yellow fever throughout Ghana, over the past 20 years, there is almost like a predictable five-year cycle with yellow fever. So almost every five years, we have some kind of outbreak,” she said.
Dr Otabil-Nelson cited previous outbreaks in 2011, 2016 and 2021 as evidence of the recurring pattern.
“So when you look at years of like 2011, we had an outbreak. 2016, we had an outbreak. 2021, we had an outbreak. So 2026, that fits the pattern,” she added.
She noted that despite previous outbreaks, Ghana has not recorded large numbers of deaths, attributing this in part to vaccination efforts.
“Even though we’ve had these outbreaks, when we look at these big outbreaks, we haven’t had big numberings when it comes to deaths and things because a lot of people are getting vaccinated,” she said.
She urged continued vigilance as Ghana enters another year that fits the historical pattern, stressing the importance of vaccination and early medical attention in managing the disease.
Dr Otabil-Nelson also advised people experiencing symptoms that could resemble malaria not to rely on self-medication, but to seek medical attention and undergo appropriate testing.
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She explained that yellow fever is a viral infection and can present with symptoms similar to malaria, making proper diagnosis important.
According to her, early medical attention can improve outcomes, particularly because there is no specific medication that directly treats the yellow fever virus.
She said treatment is mainly supportive, including providing fluids and monitoring patients, and many people recover when they receive appropriate care early.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Pamela Quayson
