The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has placed its facilities on the alert for the possible outbreak of a more serious strain of the meningitis disease.

According to the Director General of GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, surveillance shows that the current strain of the disease will mutate into a more serious one, hence their preparations ahead of it.

Since the outbreak of the meningitis in the northern belt of the country, two regions have so far been affected. The Upper West Region, has recorded over 129 suspected cases with 22 confirmed and a total of 16 deaths reported.

The Upper East Regional Health Directorate is also currently dealing with 31 suspected cases of the disease with two confirmed in two districts of the region. The Upper Est Region is thus the second region to record meningitis related deaths this year.

Dr Akoriyea at a media engagement over the weekend, acknowledged the seriousness of the outbreak and the need for all hands on deck.

“Same with meningitis, so far, as you know we don’t have any deaths or and we don’t have any cases. The WHO team has evaluated us successfully and I’m walking into a meeting with the team this morning immediately I leave here to be briefed on the whole exercise that happened.

“Most of the communities were reached and they had the necessary education. Bed nets were distributed, they met with our specialists and our experts who came to support us,” he said.

According to him, “We didn’t only do that for temporary relief, but we do know very well that very soon we will be going on to more outbreaks, especially the meningitis to a different stream which can cause a whole lot to the health system. So, we also prepare towards that.”

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