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The World Health Organization (WHO) has stepped in to help Ghana curtail the spread of the deadly pneumococcal meningitis.

The disease has so far claimed over thirty lives in the Brong Ahafo and Northern Regions. 

It has affected dozens and keeps spreading in towns, especially in the Brong Ahafo Region. 

Speaking to journalists in Accra, the Disease Prevention and Control Officer at the WHO, Sally Ann Ohene said her outfit is providing some logistical support to the Ghana Health Service to deal with the situation.

“WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health throughout this outbreak that has been occurring. The support we have been giving has come in the form of making available the rapid diagnostic test kits that enables the diagnosis of Meningitis.”

Meningitis not in A/R

Meanwhile the Ghana Health Service has denied reports that the Ashanti Region has recorded some cases of the deadly disease.

There were reports over the weekend that two persons had died from the disease in the Offinso Municipality but the Deputy Director and Head of Surveillances at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Franklin Aseidu-Bekoe during a media briefing on Monday denied these reports , saying “I want to state that currently there is no outbreak of pneumococcal meningitis in the Ashanti Region.”

He said the region has recorded 7 similar cases which he said is “sporadic” from 6 districts but said it should not be linked to the outbreak in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe further explained that “the organisms isolated in the reported cases in the region are actually Neisseria meningitis type C, which is very different from pneumococcal meningitis.”