Current meningitis outbreak in Ghana: Historical perspectives and the importance of diagnostics
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2017
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Abstract
Bacterial meningitis continues to be one of the most dreaded infections in sub-Saharan Africa and other
countries that fall in the “meningitis belt” due to recurrent nature of the infection and the sequel of
deliberating effects among survivors even after treatment. Ghana has had recurrent epidemics in the past
but has been free from high mortality levels. Whereas reasons for the low reported number of deaths
in the past are unclear, we hypothesize that it may be due to increased vaccination from expanded
program on immunization (EPI) and consequent herd immunity of the general population. As at the end
of February, 2016, 100 individuals were reported to have died out of 500 recorded cases. The infection
may cause severe brain damage and kills at least 1 out of 10 individuals if quick interventions are not
provided. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), together with other local
and international stakeholders are working intensely to control the spread of the infection in affected
communities with treatment and other health management programmes. This review presents a quick
overview of meningitis in Ghana with emphasis on S. pneumoniae (responsible for about 70% of cases in
the recent epidemic)together with some recommendations aimed at ensuring a “meningitis-free Ghana”.
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This article is published by Elsevier and is also available at www.elsevier.com/locate/actatropica
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Acta Tropica 169 (2017) 51–56