Sissala East Member of Parliament (MP), Mohammed Issah Bataglia has called for calm and heightened vigilance after reports of suspected yellow fever cases in the constituency, attributing the likely transmission to mosquito bites in forested areas and stressing that immunization remains the most effective long-term safeguard.
Speaking in an interview on Starr Midday News on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Bataglia said available information points to mosquitoes that may have fed on monkeys before biting humans.
“Human-to-human spread is difficult without the mosquito vector,” he noted. “The affected individuals largely live outside town centres in bush and forest-edge communities rather than in urban settlements.”
As a border constituency with Burkina Faso, the MP observed that cross-border movement could also play a role in introducing cases, though the core issue is low immunization coverage.
“The underlying factor is that immunization should be the key because if you look at generally most people around are not immunized against this yellow fever issue,” he said.
He added that this explained why confirmed residents of the constituency itself had not been the primary group affected so far.
Bataglia said he had pressed for immediate vaccination, but health authorities are following established protocols.
He indicated that the Director-General of Health was expected to address the public that afternoon on the measures being taken and the immediate next steps.
His message to residents who feel agitated by news of the outbreak was clear: remain calm, watch for early symptoms, and seek medical care promptly rather than delaying until conditions worsen.
Education teams are already moving through communities, and radio stations are broadcasting information on warning signs. Mosquito nets are being distributed to reduce bites, and discussions are under way with the health director on possible spraying of heavily affected zones.
“The most important thing that we think people should adhere to now is the education going on and making sure that they save lives from being lost following this trouble that we are faced with,” Bataglia said.
Health authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the full scale of the outbreak or the precise vaccination timeline. Residents are advised to follow official guidance as it is released.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
