Cerebrospinal meningitis kills two students in Bawku

Two students have been confirmed dead with eleven others on admission at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital from cerebrospinal meningitis in the Upper East region. Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) is an acute inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord that can sometimes lead to fatal consequences. Medical experts described it as a serious disease that is slow to spread but has high fatality rate. Few weeks back the Ministry of Health gave an alert regarding the possibility of an outbreak. This is because the weather pattern during this period is usually drier. Confirming the deaths to 3FM News, the upper east regional health director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Kofi Isa revealed that the health facilities there have within the week recorded twenty cases. According to him, education has already begun in the region to create awareness on the disease. “Yes two students have died from the disease, Cerebrospinal Meningitis, with eleven others on admission at the Bawku Presbyterian Hospital. Twenty cases have so far been reported this week at the Bawku Municipal, Pusiga, Binduri and Garu hospitals. We have already started public education for the people to report early when they see symptoms of the disease,” he said. By Sarah A. Parku |3FM|3news.com]]>