The Upper West Region has recorded 15 suspected meningitis cases so far in the ongoing 2025 to 2026 meningitis season, with four infections confirmed through laboratory testing and two deaths reported, health authorities have disclosed.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Josephat Nyuzaghl, stated that the situation remains relatively calm compared to last year’s outbreak, which saw significantly higher infections and fatalities across the region.
According to Dr. Nyuzaghl, the region recorded 269 suspected cases during the previous season, of which 36 were confirmed and 18 deaths recorded, resulting in a case fatality rate of about 6.7 percent. This figure remains below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended maximum threshold of 10 percent for meningitis outbreaks.
Dr. Nyuzaghl noted that most of last year’s infections were caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that largely affected young people between the ages of 11 and 20. The Nadowli and Nandom districts were the hardest hit areas during the previous season.
The 2025 to 2026 meningitis season started around the last week of October and is expected to run until April 2026. Dr. Nyuzaghl emphasized that compared to last year, the region is seeing fewer cases and fewer fatalities, demonstrating that preparedness measures are making a difference.
He explained that the regional health directorate has intensified disease surveillance, improved access to treatment, and strengthened risk communication efforts to prevent further spread of the infection. These measures include enhanced laboratory capacity for rapid confirmation of suspected cases and improved supply chains for essential medicines.
Health officials are working closely with community leaders and the media to educate residents on the early symptoms of meningitis, which include fever, severe headache, neck stiffness, and vomiting. Authorities have stressed the importance of seeking prompt medical care when these symptoms appear.
Dr. Nyuzaghl assured residents that the region’s health system remains on high alert and ready to respond swiftly to any new cases. He emphasized that early detection, rapid treatment, and public awareness are critical in controlling meningitis outbreaks and preventing fatalities.
Meningitis cases typically rise in Ghana’s northern regions during the dry season due to heat, dust, and overcrowded living conditions, which create favorable conditions for the spread of the infection. The Upper West Region falls within the African meningitis belt, a zone stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia where seasonal epidemics occur regularly.
The disease, which involves inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, can be caused by various bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Bacterial meningitis is the most serious form and can lead to death within hours if not treated promptly.
Ghana’s northern regions, including Upper West, Upper East, and North East, are particularly vulnerable during the dry season when the Harmattan winds carry dust particles that irritate the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, reducing natural defenses against bacterial infections.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has established surveillance systems in all health facilities across the Upper West Region to detect and respond to suspected meningitis cases rapidly. Community volunteers have been trained to identify potential cases and refer patients to health facilities immediately.
Health authorities have advised members of the public to sleep in well ventilated rooms, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, avoid overcrowding, and report immediately to any health facility if they experience severe headache, stiffness of neck, vomiting, muscle pain, fever, or altered consciousness.
Dr. Nyuzaghl also urged parents and guardians to pay particular attention to children who develop fever and become irritable, as children may not always exhibit the classical symptoms of meningitis. He stressed that early reporting can save lives and prevent complications such as brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disabilities.
The regional health directorate has stockpiled antibiotics and other essential supplies at strategic locations across the region to ensure rapid treatment initiation for confirmed or suspected meningitis cases. All treatment for meningitis in public health facilities remains free of charge under government policy.
Despite improved preparedness, health officials acknowledge challenges including the region’s doctor shortage. Recent data indicates that 25 out of 32 doctors allocated to the Upper West Region for the 2025 to 2026 service period did not report to duty, leaving only 55 active medical doctors to serve a population of nearly one million residents.
The WHO and GHS continue to monitor the situation closely and have activated emergency response protocols to ensure swift intervention if the region reaches alert or epidemic thresholds. Alert threshold is defined as five cases per 100,000 population per week, while epidemic threshold is 10 cases per 100,000 population per week.
Health authorities remain optimistic that with continued vigilance, enhanced surveillance, community engagement, and prompt treatment, the 2025 to 2026 meningitis season will conclude without a major outbreak in the Upper West Region.
