Congestion cause of meningitis outbreak in SHSs - Health officer

Justice Badam Parmaak, a public health officer with the West Gonja District Health Directorate in the Northern Region has disclosed that congestion is clearly the cause of meningitis outbreak in Senior High Schools in recent times.

He said this on a local radio program on Radio for Peace and Development (PAD FM) in Damongo in the West Gonja District in response to a question on the reason for meningitis cases in some Senior High Schools.

This follows recent cases of confirmed meningitis in Damongo Senior High School in the West Gonja District of Northern Ghana.

He said, “It’s clearly the case of congestion. For example, if you check what happened in 2015, I'm sure if you go and look at the hygienic condition in NDESCO and the other secondary schools here, you will see that the place is so congested. These are people who are coming from different angles of Ghana. So when they come together and there is a disease like that among them, it can easily spread. So if they are able to decongest the place, we will be able to see what is happening".

Laboratory results have confirmed that Nantomah Fadila, the first year student of Damongo SHS died from a type of meningitis known as streptococci meningitis caused by streptococci pneumonia.

Nine (9) other students are confirmed to be on admission at the west Gonja District hospital. They are reported to be in a very stable condition and are currently being observed at the laboratory.

The headmaster of the school, Chief Kipo Harrison Salifu has assured that the situation was under control. And that there was no need for fear and panic. The deceased has been laid to rest at the Canteen cemetery after investigation were concluded on the body.

Justice Badam has however, allayed fears of the public that there was a possible outbreak of meningitis in the West Gonja District/Damongo Senior High School (DASS).

According to him,even though there is a confirmed case of meningitis, it does not qualify per the definition of outbreak to say it's an "outbreak".

He disclosed that for a particular disease to be regarded as an outbreak, it must be more than the normal expected. We must also have two cases in a week. And within that period, we call it an "alert week".

According to him, “There is no outbreak of meningitis in West Gonja...Yes, we’ve a confirmed case of meningitis, but that does not qualify per our definition of outbreak to say, it is an outbreak. Before you say a disease is an outbreak, one, we even have steps you have to follow .You even have to have two cases in a week...Within one week, two cases. That is when you can even say you are in an alert period for outbreak. "

He further stated that, as the situation stands in West Gonja District, a case of streptococci meningitis was recorded in 2015 which claimed the life of a young man in Ndewura Jackpa SHTS, and then last week a man in his 60's died from Kabampe in a confirmed case of same disease in the district and the recent one at DASS. This brings the number to three (3) from 2015 to 2017.

"So West Gonja is not even in the alert period, not to talk of getting to the stage of an outbreak. It's only in rare cases like yellow fever that one could have said there is an outbreak," he noted.

Harrison Alogo, a senior nursing officer has also advised the public to eat well and drink enough water as that can protect them against the disease.

Common signs and symptoms of meningitis include: severe headache than the normal, headache, fever, difficulty in turning the neck and difficultly in looking at light.

The public is cautioned to visit the health facilities when any of the signs and symptoms is felt and not to self-prescribe.

Meanwhile, there is currently a standby staff for emergency response. The district together with the West Gonja District Hospital has also established an investigation team to track any possible outbreak.