Ghana recorded about 450 suspected yellow fever cases between June and September 2026, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disclosed, with 74 of the suspected cases in the Upper West Region, where three cases have been confirmed.
The minister gave the figures at the Ministry of Health’s Health Sector Update Engagement in Accra on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. “As of yesterday, the suspected cases were around 450 from June to September,” he said.
The disclosure follows reports from the Sissala East Municipality in the Upper West Region, where community leaders say seven people have died. The municipal health directorate has confirmed an outbreak in the area.
Mr Akandoh, however, urged calm. “We don’t have to press the panic buttons,” he said, adding that a death is only attributed to the disease once it is confirmed.
Yellow fever cases in Ghana: 450 suspected, 3 confirmed
According to the Health Minister, the 450 figure covers suspected cases reported nationwide over the four months from June to September.
Of these, 74 suspected cases were recorded in the Upper West Region. Three cases from the region have been confirmed through laboratory testing.
The minister did not give a national total of confirmed cases or disclose any death figures.
- Suspected cases nationwide (June–September 2026): about 450
- Suspected cases in Upper West Region: 74
- Confirmed cases (Upper West): 3
- Deaths reported by community leaders in Sissala East: 7 (not confirmed by the Health Minister)
Sissala East deaths spark yellow fever alarm in Upper West
Concern over the disease grew after the Member of Parliament for Sissala East, Mohammed Issah Bataglia, raised alarm on Monday, October 6, over seven reported deaths in the municipality.
“It’s quite worrying because I got a report from the chief of this place,” the MP told Joy FM, adding that he had contacted the municipal health director about it.
A Fulani chief in one of the affected communities said several children had died. He said the first case was a child who was taken to hospital and died two days later, and that he alerted health officials when the deaths reached four.
Residents say children and young people are among the most affected. The Sissala East Health Directorate says it is identifying cases, tracing contacts and working to stop the spread.
Health Ministry response to yellow fever cases
Mr Akandoh said government has stepped up surveillance and response measures, particularly in northern Ghana.
“The National Rapid Response Team has been deployed to the northern part of the country, especially the Upper West,” he said.
Other measures announced include:
- Designated sections of district hospitals in affected areas set aside to isolate and manage suspected and confirmed cases
- Laboratories supplied with reagents to support detection and confirmation
- Heightened surveillance and monitoring of suspected cases
- A detailed briefing on the situation to be prepared
The minister also admitted that testing capacity remains limited. “In some cases we take the samples to Senegal to go and confirm,” he said.
Is there a yellow fever outbreak in Ghana?
Asked about declaring an outbreak, Mr Akandoh said “the guideline is that when you report more than one or two, it is enough to declare an outbreak.”
The Sissala East health directorate has already confirmed an outbreak in that municipality. The minister urged the media to be “circumspect” in their reporting and asked the public to cooperate with health authorities.
The figures come months after the ministry’s response to other health threats, including the measures announced when WHO declared an Ebola emergency earlier this year.
What yellow fever means for residents in affected areas
Yellow fever is a viral disease spread mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It does not spread through casual person-to-person contact.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Severe cases may lead to jaundice, bleeding and organ failure, according to the World Health Organization.
The disease is vaccine-preventable. Health authorities are urging anyone with symptoms, especially in the Upper West and other northern regions, to seek prompt medical care at the nearest health facility.
What happens next
The National Rapid Response Team will continue work in the Upper West, while health officials monitor suspected cases across the country.
More samples are expected to be tested to confirm or rule out suspected cases. The ministry says a detailed briefing will follow, which may give updated confirmed case and death figures.
Key details at a glance
- About 450 suspected yellow fever cases recorded in Ghana from June to September 2026.
- 74 suspected cases in the Upper West Region; 3 confirmed.
- Seven deaths reported by community leaders in Sissala East Municipality.
- Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh disclosed the figures in Accra on October 7.
- National Rapid Response Team deployed to northern Ghana, especially the Upper West.
- Isolation areas set up in district hospitals; labs supplied with reagents.
- Some samples are sent to Senegal for confirmation.
FAQs
How many yellow fever cases are in Ghana in 2026?
About 450 suspected cases were recorded from June to September 2026, according to the Health Minister. Three cases from the Upper West Region have been confirmed.
Where is the yellow fever outbreak in Ghana?
The Upper West Region is the most affected, with 74 suspected cases. An outbreak has been confirmed in the Sissala East Municipality, where seven deaths have been reported.
Is yellow fever contagious from person to person?
No. Yellow fever spreads mainly through the bites of infected mosquitoes, not through casual contact between people. It can be prevented by vaccination.
Ghana’s 450 suspected yellow fever cases, with three confirmed in the Upper West, have put health authorities on alert as reports of deaths in Sissala East raise public concern. Government has deployed a rapid response team and set up isolation areas, but says confirmed figures, not suspected ones, will guide its next steps.
