Listeriosis outbreak: Ministry of Health issues alert

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has issued a public health alert on Listeriosis.

South Africa has recorded an outbreak of Listeriosis, which is food poisoning caused by eating products contaminated with Listeria Monocytogenes.

To prevent a similar outbreak in Ghana through importation of such products into the country, the MoH has urged relevant authorities to step up surveillance and intensification of inspection at the country’s entry points.

“In view of the public health concern and to avoid similar outbreak here in Ghana, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is monitoring the situation and has increased surveillance on meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetable from South Africa to ensure that they are not contaminated,” a statement signed and released by Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu on Thursday, 11 January 2018, indicated.

The Ministry further assured the public to remain calm as they continue to “monitor, investigate and assess the quality of plant and animal products coming from South Africa.