An outbreak of pneumococcal meningitis in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region has claimed eight lives, leaving 30 others hospitalised at Brohani, according to health officials.
District Director of Health at Tain, Dr Rockson Adjei, told DAILY GUIDE the condition is far different from cerebro spinal meningitis (CSM).
“I think the eight who died were those whose condition worsened at home as a result of delay at due to ignorance,” he said.
Dr Adjei revealed that though the situation is under control, the least clinical neglect can spread it, so he and his team have started a sensitisation programme to put unaffected people on alert.
“We have done a lot to manage the outbreak, but this pneumococcal meningitis kills faster than CSM, this is fatal,” he disclosed.
He said the outbreak started on December 24, but urged affected residents to report quickly to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Pneumococcal meningitis is caused by bacteria called streptococcus pneumoniae. In some cases, it leads to other illnesses such as bacteraemia (a blood infection), ear infections, and pneumonia and sinus infections.
Its symptoms include severe headache and neck pains, according to health officials.
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