The Government of Ghana has issued a public health alert following confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease reported in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The alert was contained in a press statement issued by the Ministry of Health, Republic of Ghana, on 18 May, 2026.
According to the Ministry, updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) confirmed recent Ebola cases in the affected countries. It added that Ghana has not recorded any suspected or confirmed case.
The Ministry stated that it is working with international health partners and has activated nationwide precautionary measures aimed at strengthening preparedness and response capacity.
The measures include enhanced surveillance and screening at airports, seaports, and land borders; increased monitoring of travellers arriving from affected countries; training and equipping of health workers to identify, isolate and manage suspected cases; activation of emergency coordination and rapid response systems; and intensified public education and awareness campaigns.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe illness transmitted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated surfaces. Early symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, vomiting and diarrhoea, while severe cases may involve bleeding.
The Ministry urged the public to adopt preventive measures such as regular handwashing with soap and clean water or the use of alcohol-based sanitiser, avoiding contact with bodily fluids of sick persons, and refraining from handling dead bodies without protective measures. It also advised against handling or consuming sick or dead wild animals, stressing that all meat must be properly handled and thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Residents were further advised to report suspected symptoms promptly to the nearest health facility and to disregard unverified information circulating on social media. The Ministry encouraged reliance on official updates from the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.
The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service said they remain committed to monitoring the situation and safeguarding public health across the country.