GMA Warns Ebola Threat 'Imminent' After Bundibugyo Strain Detected in Nigeria, Urges Urgent Preparedness

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has urged the government to intensify preparations against a possible Ebola outbreak following the reported detection of the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in neighbouring Nigeria, warning that the threat is now "imminent."

The Association says Ghana must strengthen its disease surveillance and emergency response systems to prevent a potential outbreak and ensure that health facilities are adequately prepared to manage suspected cases.

Speaking at a press conference to mark the close of the GMA's 68th Annual General Conference, Association President Professor Ernest Yorke described the development in Nigeria as a serious public health concern and called for urgent preventive measures.

"The threats of Ebola virus disease, in particular the Bundibugyo strain, which has spread rapidly in Central and East Africa with very high mortality, are now imminent with the detection of the virus in our sister country, Nigeria," he said.

More Comprehensive Measures Needed

Professor Yorke acknowledged the initial response by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, particularly efforts to educate health workers and the public and strengthen surveillance at the country's ports of entry. However, he said more comprehensive measures were needed to protect the country against the possibility of an outbreak.

The GMA is calling for intensified public education to ensure that citizens understand the risks associated with Ebola and the preventive measures required to limit its spread.

It has also urged the government to designate quarantine and isolation facilities, strengthen preparedness for the management of suspected and confirmed cases, and improve disease surveillance within communities.

"The GMA calls for intensified public education, designation of quarantine and isolation sites, case management readiness, as well as strengthening surveillance within communities. We further call on the government to proactively set aside funds to finance the response to any possible outbreak," Professor Yorke said.

Public Advisory

The GMA has appealed to the public to observe proper hygiene practices and take precautions to reduce the risk of infection, particularly encouraging regular handwashing with soap under running water and the use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers.

The Association also advised the public to avoid physical contact with people suspected or confirmed to have Ebola, dead bodies of infected persons, and objects that may have been contaminated.

It further urged people experiencing symptoms associated with the disease to seek immediate medical attention at the nearest public health facility. The symptoms include high fever, headache, muscle pain, sore throat, general weakness, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding from any part of the body.

The GMA also called on members of the public to promptly alert health authorities if they notice anyone in their communities displaying similar symptoms.

Background to the Bundibugyo Strain

The Bundibugyo strain is one of several known strains of the Ebola virus. It was first identified in Uganda in 2007 and has been associated with high mortality rates in previous outbreaks. The strain has spread rapidly in Central and East Africa in recent months, prompting heightened concern among public health officials across the continent.

The detection of the virus in Nigeria — West Africa's most populous country and a close neighbour to Ghana — has raised alarm about the potential for cross-border transmission. Nigeria has historically been a gateway for disease spread in the region, and Ghana shares busy land borders and air links with the country.

Ghana's Ebola History

Ghana has never recorded a confirmed case of Ebola, but the country has previously activated emergency preparedness measures during major outbreaks in West Africa. During the 2014-2016 Ebola epidemic, which devastated Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Ghana served as a logistics hub for the international response while implementing screening at its borders and designating treatment centres.

Health authorities have since maintained a level of surveillance, but the GMA's latest warning suggests that existing measures may be insufficient in the face of the Bundibugyo strain's rapid spread.

Part of Broader Healthcare Reform Agenda

The Ebola preparedness call formed part of the GMA's broader agenda at its 68th Annual General Conference, where the Association also outlined seven system-wide interventions to address Ghana's emergency healthcare challenges, including the "No Bed Syndrome."

The GMA called for the nationwide expansion of the electronic hospital bed management system, the establishment of hospital bed management teams, expanded bed capacity, and a dedicated and sustainable funding mechanism for emergency care — suggesting that portions of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and private vehicle insurance premiums could be repurposed to finance the fund.

The Association argued that a coordinated, well-funded emergency care system would not only address the bed crisis but also strengthen Ghana's capacity to respond to public health emergencies such as a potential Ebola outbreak.