Report by Nana Anfreh DAMANATA
Reports indicate that more than 300 people in the Wenchi Municipality of Bono Region are affected by elephantiasis (Gyepim) disease. Dr. Vera Serwaa Opoku, a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) KNUST revealed this during the 2025 annual Health Performance Review organized by the Wenchi Municipal Health Directorate.
This was on Friday, 26 February, 2026.
She told journalists after the programme that a total of 4,954 people were screened, and 328 tested positive.
She said the disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.
Dr Serwaa Opoku warned the public that elephantiasis can be prevented primarily thrugh avoiding mosquito bites as the disease is transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes.
She therefore urged the public to use insecticide-treated nets, especially during evening and early morning hours when mosquitoes are most active and remove standing water around their home, such as in water basins, tires, or containers to reduce the mosquito population.
