Diseases and Snakebites: GHS issues public health alert over rainy season risks

The Ministry of Health, through the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has issued an official public health alert warning citizens of the health and safety risks associated with the onset of the rainy season.

The directive, signed by the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, outlines urgent guidelines to prevent disease outbreaks and manage environmental hazards.

Rising Risk of Waterborne and Mosquito-Borne Diseases

According to health authorities, the transition from prolonged dry periods to early rains significantly increases the risk of waterborne illnesses. Rainwater can wash contaminated faecal matter into open water sources, heightening the transmission of:

* Typhoid

* Cholera

* Dysentery

The GHS also warned that vegetables grown close to water bodies face a high risk of contamination during this period.

Furthermore, stagnant water pooling in discarded containers, old tyres and cans creates ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, raising the risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, yellow fever and dengue fever.

Preventive Measures for the General Public

To mitigate these health hazards, the GHS advises individuals to strictly observe the following hygiene and safety practices:

* Keep household surroundings clean and entirely free of containers that can collect stagnant water.