Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, confirmed the detection of a solitary case of Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) in the country, signaling a rare occurrence amidst ongoing surveillance efforts.
The case was identified in an elderly adult from a batch of 90 samples tested, with Mr. Akandoh highlighting that the country began testing for the virus in January 2025 as part of its routine monitoring in response to rising respiratory infections in China and other temperate regions in December 2024.
While hMPV can cause symptoms ranging from cold-like effects to more severe respiratory conditions such as pneumonia, the minister emphasised that the risk to public health in Ghana remains low.
He reassured the public that the nation’s disease surveillance infrastructure, bolstered after the COVID-19 pandemic, remains vigilant.
“We have a robust monitoring system in place for respiratory viruses, including hMPV. Any detected case will be quickly identified and managed to prevent further spread,” Mr. Akandoh stated during a briefing to Parliament on current cholera and meningitis outbreaks.
