Kumasi, Oct. 26, GNA - The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has begun a massive immunization exercise against yellow fever in the Amansie West District of Ashanti.

The 10-day exercise became necessary following the declaration of the district by the GHS as a high-risk zone after two cases of yellow fever had been detected in the Atwima-Nwabiagya district of Ashanti and Upper Denkyira District in the Central region. Mr Joseph Adomako, Amansie West District Director of Health Services, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi that the geographical proximity of the Amansie district to the two affected districts, made it imperative to take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent the disease.

Amansie West lies in the middle of the two districts. He said the exercise which began on Sunday is expected to cover about 126,000 people aged two and above. Mr Adomako said health personnel were moving from house to house to immunize the people while others were administering the vaccine at vantage points.

He appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders in the district as well as the residents to support and cooperate with the health authorities to prevent the disease from spreading to the district.