The Upper East Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service, says no case of the deadly pneumococcal meningitis has been recorded in the region.
According to them, 16 suspected cases were reported but after intense investigation, it turned out that they were cerebrospinal meningitis (W135).
The Upper East Regional Director of Health, Dr. Kofi Issah, in an interview with Citi News said the cerebrospinal meningitis cases were recorded in 7 districts in the region with no deaths.
[contextly_sidebar id=”wtDm9Indx0yt6G4yKWfDz3H2EE3wcKNa”]”As of 28th January, 2016, the region had recorded 16 cerebrospinal meningitis cases compared to nine that were recorded over the same period in 2015. Out of the 16 cases, Bolgatanga municipal recorded the highest cases of 7. In terms of the causative organism, 8 cases have been confirmed as W135 with 5 cases recorded in Bolga municipality and 1 each in Bongo and Talensi districts and the Kassena Nankana municipality. No case of Pneumococcal Meningitis has been recorded so far and there has been no death amongst the 16 cases but we are on the high alert,” Dr. Issah stated.
The region which forms part of the cerebrospinal meningitis belt recorded a total of 78 CSM cases with 7 deaths in 2014, out of which 7 cases were Pneumococcal meningitis with 1 death.
In 2015, a total of 86 CSM cases were recorded with 8 deaths, out of which 8 cases were Pneumococcal meningitis but with no death.
Dr. Issah said although the region is not yet affected with the Pneumococcal meningitis, his outfit has scaled up its rapid surveillance responsive team in all districts and municipalities with intense public education and the supplies of logistics to prevent an outbreak.
He advised the public that the disease which is associated with symptoms of high fever, neck-pains, cough, and sometimes vomiting, should urgently be reported to the nearest health facility for management.
Dr. Issah further asked the public to cultivate the habit of drinking more water whenever they have dry throat, avoid overcrowding and cover their mouths when sneezing.
The sporadic nature of the Pneumococcal meningitis which has so far been reported in about five regions has put fear in many people in the country.
Some 37 lives have been lost due to the deadly disease which was first recorded in the Brong Ahafo region some few weeks ago.
Meanwhile the Ghana Health Service says it has put in place measures to curb the spread of the disease.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana