Early detection key to preventing health crises - Prof Kenu

Ghana must transition from a reactive to a proactive public health system by strengthening disease surveillance, according to Professor Ernest Kenu, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the University of Ghana. He stressed that infectious diseases often spread unnoticed, making early detection crucial to prevent outbreaks from escalating into public health emergencies.

During his inaugural lecture, themed “Disease Smuggling: The Unseen Cargo in Global Health Security,” Professor Kenu shared findings from Ghana’s COVID-19 response. He noted that an analysis of the first 17,700 confirmed cases revealed approximately 80% were asymptomatic, allowing the virus to spread silently within communities. Compliance with preventive measures also remained low, with about 60% of face mask users wearing them incorrectly and only 12.3% practicing proper hand hygiene.

Kenu highlighted the success of a surveillance approach developed by his team, which increased case detection by over 400% during the pandemic. Collaboration between the University of Ghana, the Ghana Health Service, and other partners led to the establishment of a COVID-19 Situation Room, providing real-time data and mapping to support government decision-making. Contact tracing at the University of Ghana showed that strict adherence to protocols significantly reduced transmission.

Surveillance at Ghana’s entry points during border closures indicated minimal active infections among travelers, informing the government's decision to reopen land and sea borders in March 2022. Kenu also noted that COVID-19 preventive measures disrupted cholera transmission, suspending a planned clinical trial. He urged for strengthened laboratory capacity, integrated digital surveillance, expanded emergency operations centers, and the use of artificial intelligence to predict disease outbreaks, warning that "the next disease is coming."

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the next disease is coming