Wenchi: More than 300 people in the Wenchi Municipality of the Bono region have tested positive for elephantiasis, according to Dr. Vera Serwaa Opoku, a Postdoctoral fellow at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR).
According to Ghana News Agency, the clinical screening exercise conducted in the municipality tested 4,954 individuals, out of which 328 confirmed positive for the disease. The center has already provided medication to those infected. Dr. Opoku revealed these findings during an interview at a meeting of the Wenchi Municipal Directorate of Health. The screening was carried out over a six-month period in 2025.
Dr. Opoku mentioned that while the medication offers treatment, the recovery process would require approximately two years from the commencement of the treatment. She emphasized the importance of protecting oneself from mosquito bites and maintaining cleanliness by clearing weedy areas and desilting clogged gutters.
She elaborated that elephantiasis is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites and stressed the need for personal hygiene and clean surroundings. Dr. Opoku advised residents to use insecticide-treated nets, as the mosquitoes carrying the disease are most active during the evenings and early mornings.
Highlighting the conditions where infected mosquitoes thrive, Dr. Opoku pointed out that they are commonly found near water basins, open gutters, bushy environments, and waterways. She encouraged individuals experiencing unusual symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.
With an early diagnosis, elephantiasis, also referred to as lymphatic filariasis, can be effectively managed and treated. It is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic worms and results in severe symptoms such as permanent swelling, skin thickening, and hardening, typically affecting the legs, arms, or genitals. The disease often leads to physical disabilities, pain, and societal stigmatization, particularly in tropical regions.