The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has declared a meningitis epidemic in the Nadowli and Jirapa Districts of the Upper West Region.
Current statistics show that about 550 people have been infected by different strain of the disease including pneumococcal, meningococcal and Neisseria meningitis.
About one hundred people have so far died.
The Upper West alone has recorded over 50 cases with more than 15 deaths.
In meningitis, an attack rate in excess of 15 cases per 100,000 people for two consecutive weeks is considered an epidemic.
Director of Public Health Division at the GHS, Dr. Badu Sarkodie told Citi News “Jirapa and Nadowli are so far the districts where the ailment is endemic.
“Nandom has been on the alert and we have made a case for them for vaccination and they have been approved. We wanted to involve Lawra because of their proximity to the affected areas; but that has not been approved yet. We are also recording some cases in the Northern Region and we are also making a case for vaccines”.
Neisseria meningitis was recorded as an outbreak in parts of the Upper East and West Regions two years ago, but was controlled using vaccines.
“The good thing about the Neisseria is that, we have a vaccine which we can apply.
Quickly, the team meets to put things together; once we need to vaccinate, we talk to the World Health Organization (WHO) to get us the vaccines. We are now carrying out vaccination in the affected areas” Dr. Sarkodie said.
Neisseria meningitis has also recorded some cases in the Tain and Wenchi districts of the Brong-Ahafo Region.
A team of health professionals from the Ghana Health Service are currently there to access the situation.
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By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana