By Deborah Pofara Luu
A meningitis outbreak in Ghana has resulted in over 129 cases and 16 deaths as of Sunday, February 16, according to Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, February 18, Akandoh stated that the Upper West Region is the hardest-hit area, with 29 patients currently undergoing treatment.
The most affected districts in the Upper West Region include Wa Municipal, Nadowli, Wa West, Jirapa, and Nandom.
“Meningitis outbreaks are common in Ghana’s northern regions due to the country’s location within the ‘Meningitis Belt’ of Africa, which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east,” Akandoh explained.
He added that the disease is most prevalent during the dry and dusty harmattan season, which spans from October to March.
According to Akandoh, Listeria and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the two main pathogens responsible for meningitis outbreaks in Ghana.
He noted that while vaccines exist for Listeria, they are ineffective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the strain currently causing the outbreak in the Upper West Region.
The government has taken several steps to address the outbreak, including deploying a national team of health experts to support regional and district health authorities and providing free treatment for affected patients.
Emergency operations centers have also been activated to coordinate the response.
“Additional supplies of antibiotics have been secured, and public awareness campaigns are being intensified to educate the public on symptoms and encourage early treatment,” Akandoh said. He also noted that community leaders have been engaged to help spread information, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed experts to assist Ghana in managing the outbreak.
Akandoh stated that these measures are already showing positive results, with a gradual decline in new cases in the Upper West Region.
