Viral Zoonoses of National Importance in Ghana: Advancements and Opportunities for Enhancing Capacities for Early Detection and Response

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases have devastating impacts on human and animal health, livelihoods, and economies. Addressing the complex web of interrelated factors leading to zoonotic disease emergence and spread requires a transdisciplinary, cross-sectoral approach, One Health. The One Health approach, which considers the linkages between the health of people, animals, and their shared environment, presents opportunities to reduce these impacts through a more holistic coordinated strategy to understanding and mitigating disease risks. Understanding the linkages between animal, human, and environmental health risks and outcomes is critical for developing early detection systems and risk reduction strategies to address known and novel zoonotic disease threats. Nearly 70 countries across the world, including Ghana, have signed on to the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA), which is facilitating multisectoral approaches to strengthen country capacities in the prevention and early detection of and respond to infectious disease threats. Currently, Ghana has not yet formalized a national One Health policy. The lack of a clearly defined multisectoral platform and limited collaboration among key Ghanaian Ministries, Departments, and Agencies has impacted the country’s ability to effectively mitigate and respond to emerging and reemerging zoonoses. Many of these emerging zoonoses are caused by viruses, which, because of their diversity and evolutionary properties, are perceived to pose the greatest threat to global health security. Here, we review viral zoonoses of national importance and priority in Ghana, highlight recent advancements in One Health capacities, and discuss opportunities for implementing One Health approaches to mitigate zoonotic disease threats.

Rabies: knowledge, attitudes and practices in the Suhum municipality of Ghana

“…Killing of suspected rabid dog and reporting to animal health officials were the most dominant practices as reported in Tanzania and Ethiopia [17,19] . The vaccination figures in this study compare better to those reported in Kenya [21] , Ethiopia [22] , and elsewhere in Ghana [8,13] . The high proportion of vaccinated dogs in this study can be traced to the free vaccination campaigns led by RIWA Ghana, considering that the majority of the vaccinations reported by this study happened at a RIWA Ghana campaign site, and only 1.5% of previous vaccinations happened outside the period of the campaign.…”

“…Unlike in the Western Region of Ghana, where schools and mass media are the predominant sources of rabies information [8] , a majority of respondents in this study traced their rabies knowledge to family, neighbours, and friends, and a similar pattern was observed in Tanzania [17] . This study found significant differences between the level of rabies knowledge and the source of rabies information.…”

“…The project, which lasted until 2019, involved various activities which exemplified combined stakeholder One Health efforts towards the prevention of human rabies by controlling the disease in dogs [7] . Although rabies perceptions and dog-keeping practices of at-risk populations are products of socio-cultural influences [8] , not much work has been done in highlighting the knowledge, attitude and practices of Ghanaians on rabies. The objective of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the people of Suhum Municipality regarding rabies and dog bites and explore the relationship between selected characteristics and knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding rabies and rabies control in the municipality.…”

COVID-19: an opportunity to re-evaluate the implementation of a One Health approach to tackling emerging infections in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries

“…Through that framework, the GHSA and Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) have intensified efforts to strengthen the national surveillance laboratory systems for swift detection and response to prioritised zoonotic diseases. OH workforce capacity in Ghana is enhanced through the [16] Training Programmes in Epidemiology and Public Health Interventions Network (TEPHINET) in core areas like applied epidemiology, public health, and laboratory practice skills. Despite widespread support for the OH concept in Ghana, resource limitations, nonexistence of a clearly defined multisector operational framework, and inadequate collaboration among key governmental agencies impacts Ghana's ability to effectively mitigate or respond to infectious biosecurity threats.…”

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

“…In Ghana, just like most Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, the ability to detect and control emerging and reemerging infectious diseases (ERIDs) from all fronts is still challenged since it has not yet formalized a national One Health policy [17] and barely account for human health considerations in land-use planning decisions with deficiencies in the veterinary infrastructure, expertise, diagnostic laboratories, and in surveillance capabilities across the country. us, the health security of Ghana will continue to be threatened since the preparedness and response capability of a country depend on the availability of such facilities.…”