Meningitis Outbreak: One ASASCO student dead, 65 quarantined

About 60 students and Staff of Asamankese Senior High School in the Eastern region as well as some Prayer warriors at a Prayer camp have been quarantined following the death of a 17-year-old student who died of meningitis Wednesday in the School.

Reports suggest that the bereaved family sent the deceased to a prayer camp where he spend many days before sending him to the hospital after his condition had deteriorated .

Starr New has gathered that the West Akyem Health Directorate led by Dr. Samuel Agyemang Boateng has been on the grounds ensuring that persons who may be exposed to the disease due to close contact with the deceased student are detected early and treated to avert further casualties .

The deceased, a boarding student though from the Asamankese township on Monday visited the Asamankese government hospital with fever and headache. He was treated and discharged and has been attending school from the house but returned to the Hospital again on Wednesday with complaints of headache, stiff neck, fever and alter consciousness.

The Physician assistant immediately suspected meningitis hence performed lumbar puncture to obtain fluid from the spine and transported the sample to the Koforidua Regional Hospital laboratory where it was confirmed but the patient died few hours after.

The death brings to two the number of students who have died of meningitis this month in the region. The first casualty was recorded at Koforidua Secondary Technical School (SECTEC).

Meanwhile, 13 persons have been confirmed dead this year in the region out of the 87 cases recorded.

Emmanuel Sally, Eastern Regional Disease Control Officer told Starr News the fatalities recorded can be largely attributed to late reporting of cases to health facilities after symptoms observed.