A meningitis outbreak in Ghana has led to 129 reported cases and 16 fatalities as of Sunday, February 16, according to Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.
Speaking to Parliament on Tuesday, February 18, Akandoh revealed that the Upper West Region has been the hardest-hit, with 29 patients currently receiving treatment.
The districts most affected 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 explained that the disease is most common during the dry and dusty harmattan season, which lasts from October to March.
Akandoh highlighted that Listeria and Streptococcus pneumoniae are the two primary pathogens behind meningitis outbreaks in Ghana.
He pointed out that while vaccines are available for Listeria, they are not effective against Streptococcus pneumoniae, the strain currently responsible for the outbreak in the Upper West Region.
To address the crisis, the government has taken several measures, including deploying a national team of health experts to assist regional and district health authorities, as well as providing free treatment to affected patients.
Additionally, emergency operations centers have been activated to ensure a coordinated response.
Akandoh said, “Additional supplies of antibiotics have been secured, and public awareness campaigns are being intensified to educate the public on symptoms and encourage early treatment.”
He also mentioned that community leaders have been involved in spreading awareness, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has sent experts to support Ghana in managing the outbreak.
Akandoh confirmed that these efforts are yielding positive outcomes, with a steady decrease in new cases in the Upper West Region.
