Hearts hit by H3N2 virus - GHS
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has recommended a one-week isolation of Accra Hearts of Oak players and officials after the club was hit by the outbreak of the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus.
The decision by the GHS was to reduce the risk of the spread of the new virus and also help Hearts players to recover fully and participate in the ongoing Ghana Premier League.
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A statement dated May 21, 2022 and signed by the Deputy Director General of the GHS, Dr Anthony Ofosu, ,therefore, urged the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to suspend all football matches involving Hearts for the next seven days.
Protocols
The GHS also urged the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate to support Hearts to institute the appropriate prevention and control measures for the Influenza A subtype H3N2 virus.
“During the period of the implementation of these measures, the GFA shall ensure strict adherence and report any case of breach of these protocols to the Ghana Health Service for further action.
“The Ghana Health Service remains committed to protecting the health of the general population, including footballers, and will strive to implement the necessary measures in line with this,” the statement assured.
It also encouraged the GFA to support the GHS to conduct random tests for footballers in clubs which had not yet been affected by the outbreak to help ascertain the extent of the illness.
According to the GHS, it was compelled to initiate preliminary investigations in line with its mandate following recent reports of the outbreak of an unknown illness among Hearts players.
The preliminary findings prompted the GHS to direct the GFA to postpone Hearts’ away league match against Techiman Eleven Wonders last Sunday.
