Timeliness of surveillance during the Mpox outbreak in the Volta Region of Ghana: Analysis of Mpox surveillance data

Introduction: Early detection, notification, and response to infectious disease outbreaks are crucial to prevent localized incidents from escalating into pandemics. Volta region of Ghana reported suspected cases of Mpox in 2022. We estimated the median time and the rate of timely detection, notification, and response to Mpox outbreaks in the region. Methods: Secondary analysis of Mpox surveillance data in Volta Region from May 2022 to September 2022 was conducted. The 7-1-7 timeliness metrics were used to define timeliness of outbreak detection, notification, and response. Median timeliness was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier survival estimator. Cox’s proportional hazard model was used to identify factors associated with early Mpox detection. Significance level was considered at p < 0.05. Results: Twenty-two suspected Mpox cases with a mean age of 24.9 ± 16.5 years were analysed. Males accounted for 63.6% (14/22). The median time from symptom onset to detection was 10 days [interquartile range (IQR): 9–21], with 63.6% of cases detected on time. The median time to case notification was 2 days (IQR: 2–4), with 90.9% of cases notified on time. Only 36.4% of cases were confirmed promptly, with median time to laboratory confirmation of 14 days (IQR: 9–24). Conclusion: The surveillance system for Mpox in the Volta region of Ghana was generally not timely though it demonstrated commendable speed in case notification. However, the system lagged in detection and response, largely due to structural and logistic challenges. These challenges need improvement for effective response to Mpox and other public health threats in the region.