Reviewing the Past, Present, and Future Risks of Pathogens in Ghana and What This Means for Rethinking Infectious Disease Surveillance for Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The current epidemiological transition makes us wonder how the parallel of infectious diseases (IDs) might be at the end of each passing year. Yet, the surveillance of these IDs continues to focus on high-profile diseases of public health importance without keeping track of the broad spectrum of the IDs we face. Here, we presented the prevalence of the broad spectrum of IDs in Ghana. Data from the annual reports on Gold Coast now Ghana, Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network (GIDEON), and the District Health Information Management System II (DHIMS2) databases were examined for records of ID prevalence in Ghana. Using the IDs from these databases, the paper assessed the epidemiological transition, pathogen-host interactions, spatiotemporal distribution, transmission routes, and their potential areas of impact in Ghana. The topmost ID recorded in health facilities in Ghana transitioned from yaws in the 1890s to malaria in the 1950s through 2020. We then presented the hosts of a pathogen and the pathogens of a host, the administrative districts where a pathogen was found, and the pathogens found in each district of Ghana. The highest modes of transmission routes were through direct contact for bacteria and airborne or droplet-borne for viral pathogens. From GIDEON, 226 IDs were identified as endemic or potentially endemic in Ghana, with 42% cited in peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2020. From the extent of risk of endemic or potentially endemic IDs, Ghana faces a high risk of ID burden that we should be mindful of their changing patterns and should keep track of the state of each of them.

Leaving no disease behind: The roadmap to securing universal health security and what this means for the surveillance of infectious diseases in Ghana as a precedent for sub-Saharan Africa

“…For Ghana, the broad spectrum of its IDs was extracted. A detailed description of the extraction of data from each article, and the inclusion and exclusion criteria are presented in Mahama et al [ 19 ]. This data consists of extracted data from articles covering the type of survey for the sampling or study, the infectious disease, month and year of sampling or study, region, district, town, facility, study group, percentage studied or results, month and year the article was published, the journal, and title of the article.…”

“…Details of how Ghana’s population shapefile and its administrative units were obtained and georeferenced are captured in Mahama et al [ 19 ]. Details of the Global Fraction Surface for land-based travel speed, global human settlement model grid (GHS-SMOD) 2015 for settlement classification, and population and urbanization projections to 2030 are described in Falchetta et al [ 20 ].…”

Spatial Analysis of Mycobacterium Ulcerans-Hosting Water Bug Critical Zones in the Amansie West District of Ghana

“…Buruli ulcer (BU), a neglected tropical skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans (MU), has been recognized as the third most prevalent mycobacterial disease globally, trailing only tuberculosis and leprosy (Guarner, 2018). Since its recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1998, BU has continued to pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in regions with a high incidence of cases (N-Jonaam Mahama et al, 2022). One such region is Ghana, where in the past decade alone, over 2000 BU cases have been reported, and outbreaks have occurred across more than 90 administrative districts, leaving a considerable burden on healthcare systems and local communities (N-Jonaam Mahama et al, 2022).…”