Ghana Reports First Case Of Mpox This Year, Strain Yet To Be Identified
<p>Ghana has reported its first mpox case of 2024, with testing underway to determine the virus strain</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.arise.tv/ghana-reports-first-case-of-mpox-this-year-strain-yet-to-be-identified/">Ghana Reports First Case Of Mpox This Year, Strain Yet To Be Identified</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.arise.tv">Arise News</a>.</p>
Ghana has reported its first case of mpox this year, as confirmed by the country’s health service. While the specific variant remains undisclosed, authorities are conducting tests to determine whether it is the clade Ib strain that has triggered global concern due to its rapid spread and limited research.
The patient, a young male, exhibited symptoms such as fever, rash, and body pains, and 25 contacts have been identified for monitoring. This marks Ghana’s first reported case in 2024, following previous occurrences in 2022 and 2023.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared mpox a global public health emergency for the second time in August 2024, after an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo spread to nearby countries. Two strains of the virus are currently circulating: the clade I variant, endemic to parts of West and Central Africa, and the newer clade Ib strain, which spreads more easily through close contact, including sexual transmission.
Health authorities in Ghana are closely monitoring the situation as they await test results to confirm the exact strain involved.
<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gunmen-2-300x169.jpg" class="attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image" alt="Gunmen Kill Four Soldiers, Kidnap Two Foreign Workers In Rivers" style="margin-bottom: 15px;" decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gunmen-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gunmen-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gunmen-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.naijanews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gunmen-2.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></div>
<p>Two South Korean citizens who were victims of a kidnapping incident in Rivers State, Nigeria, about a month ago, have regained their freedom. Naija News reports that their release was confirmed in a statement issued on Saturday (today) by the foreign ministry in Seoul. According to Seoul’s Yonhap news agency, the two individuals, who work […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.naijanews.com/2023/12/30/gunmen-free-south-korean-workers-kidnapped-in-rivers/">Gunmen Free South Korean Workers Kidnapped In Rivers</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.naijanews.com">Naija News</a>.</p>
<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/international-passport-of-a-citizen-of-canada-on-a-suitcase.jpg?id=56667322&width=1245&height=700&coordinates=45%2C0%2C45%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>If you're planning a trip but need to renew your <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-passport-global-ranking-2025" target="_blank">Canadian passport</a>, there's a new federal guarantee that might interest you. </p><p>Starting this year, if your complete application takes more than 30 business days to process, you'll get a full refund on the fees.</p><p> The March 7 announcement was made by Minister of Citizens' Services of Canada Terry Beech as part of the first <a href="https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-announces-important-improvements-to-passport-services-and-the-release-of-the-first-state-of-service-report-839060789.html" target="_blank">State of Service Report</a>, aimed at improving efficiency in government services. And after the chaos of the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/the-federal-government-is-finally-making-progress-with-the-passport-canada-backlog" target="_blank">2022 passport crisis</a>, when massive lineups formed outside <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/canada-passport" target="_blank">Passport Canada</a> offices, the news is sure to be a relief for many travellers.</p><p>Here's how it works.</p><p>Whether you apply online, in person, or by mail, your passport should now be processed within 30 business days. If it's delayed, you’ll get your money back in full. However, the mailing time of your application and passport is not included in the 30-business-day period.</p><p>While the new measure is expected to roll out later this year, the exact start date hasn't been announced yet.</p><p>According to the government, the cost of a passport renewal depends on the validity period and the service chosen:</p><ul> <li>5-year passport: $120</li><li>10-year passport: $160</li></ul><p>Additional fees apply for faster processing are as follows:</p><ul><li>10 business days: +$20</li><li> 48-hour service: +$50</li><li> Same-day or next-day service: +$110</li></ul><p>These prices apply to applications made within Canada and may differ abroad. You can also use the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/check-passport-travel-document-application.html" target="_blank">online Passport Status Checker</a> to track your application.</p><p>The federal government also announced that they are planning to expand access to online passport renewals for more Canadians in the coming months. Since December 2024, only a select group of eligible adults have been able to use the service.</p><p>"Our government is working to make services more efficient, affordable, and better suited to the needs of Canadians," said Stéphane Lauzon, parliamentary secretary to the minister of citizens' services.</p><p>"We are modernizing service delivery and improving the passport program to reduce wait times and costs," Lauzon continued.</p><p><span></span>While it pays to have your passport delayed, let's be honest — it's still probably better to get it on time.</p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em>
