The Western Regional Co-ordinating Council (WRCC) in Ghana has implemented a ban on the sale of vegetables by vendors due to a cholera outbreak. Health authorities have reported 789 suspected cases and 8 fatalities as of December 7, 2024. The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan and Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal areas are the epicenters, with these locales contributing to 95% of the reported infections. A communiqué from December 10 highlighted that non-compliance with the ban could result in prosecution under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851).
Public health officials have traced 96% of the cholera infections to the consumption of contaminated vegetables sold by food vendors. Items identified include salads, leaves, and green peppers. The WRCC has communicated that the prohibition on vegetable sales will persist until an assessment by public health officials deems the practice safe again. The council has also recommended that any vegetables intended for domestic use undergo proper treatment before consumption.
Source: Modern Ghana