COVID-19 cases beyond University of Ghana campus - Noguchi virologist warns

Head of Virology at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), Prof Kofi Bonney, has cautioned that the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases is not limited to the University of Ghana campus but reflects a broader trend observed across multiple regions of the country.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews, monitored by GhanaWeb on Monday, June 30, 2025, Dr Bonney explained that the National Influenza Center at NMIMR—a World Health Organisation (WHO)-designated surveillance hub—has recorded sporadic cases in several regions as part of its ongoing respiratory virus monitoring program.

The center, which has been actively engaged in influenza surveillance for over 15 years, integrated COVID-19 testing into its operations following the peak of the pandemic in 2022.

"From February, we observed a slight spike in cases, mostly influenza and some COVID cases. By May, we started seeing cases from other regions including the Eastern Region, Greater Accra beyond the university area, as well as Volta and the Ashanti Region," he noted.

According to Dr Bonney, the recent surge from the University of Ghana community became particularly concerning two weeks ago when an “overwhelming number of cases” emerged.

This prompted the University to issue an advisory to the campus population to take preventive measures.

He attributed the rise in cases partly to the rainy season.

"It is not a localised resurgence, I would say. We'll be having these cases and it is expected because we are in the rainy season. And during this time, we are expecting to have a lot of these respiratory infections coming up, especially the influenza-like illnesses," he added.

The University of Ghana Health Services Directorate had earlier reported a recent resurgence of COVID-19 on its Legon campus, urging students, staff, and visitors to exercise caution and adhere to preventive protocols.

JKB/VPO

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