The Ghana Health Service has denied reports that the Ashanti Region has recorded some cases of the deadly pneumococcal meningitis.
There were reports over the weekend that two persons had died from the disease in the Offinso Municipality but the Deputy Director and Head of Surveillances at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe during a media briefing on Monday said “I want to state that currently there is no outbreak of pneumococcal meningitis in the Ashanti Region.”
He said the region has recorded 7 similar cases which he said is “sporadic” from 6 districts but said it should not be linked to the outbreak in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe further explained that “the organisms isolated in the reported cases in the region are actually Neisseria meningitis type C, which is very different from pneumococcal meningitis.”
Pneumococcal meningitis kills 33
The outbreak of the deadly pneumococcal meningitis has so far claimed 33 lives with 153 cases being recorded.
Dr. Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe explained that these figures are based on “retrospective and new cases.”
According to him there are cases in this total number which tested negative for meningitis and thus remain as suspected cases. He also explained that currently there are reported cases of pneumococcal meningitis in seven districts in the Brong Ahafo Region and two in the Northern Region.
The highest recorded cases are in Wenchi, Tain, Techiman Municipal and Techiman North all in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Sene West District has recorded the third highest number of cases but has also recorded no fatalities.
Orders to NHIA
The Ministry has also directed the National Health Insurance Authority to prioritize the payment of claims submitted by facilities managing cases of meningitis.
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By: Magdalene Teiko Larnyoh/citifmonline.com/Ghana