The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued an alert to all health facilities in the Ashanti region on a rise in rabies cases and deaths in three districts in that part of the country.

As of Monday, 12 September 2022, the region had recorded a total of four confirmed cases and one probable case.

The cases, according to the notice, were reported from the Asante Akim South, Bosomtwe and Kwabre East districts.

The case fatality rate was 100%.

The health service advised that the following public health actions be undertaken:

1.       Enhanced community/public sensitisation on rabies

2.       Improve case search for rabies in the facilities

3.       Follow up and treat all cases of dog bites

4.       Liaise with veterinary officers in your districts for dog vaccination activities

The GHS said a suspected case is a person with one or more of the following: headache, neck pain, nausea, fever, fear of water, anxiety, agitation, abnormal tingling sensations or pain at the wound site.