Meningitis likely cause of KUMACA deaths – Agyemang-Manu

Health experts who are investigating the cause of death of students at the Kumasi Academy (KUMACA) suspect Meningitis, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Minister of Health has said.

He told Parliament on Tuesday, 5 December that: “As I speak, the Head of Public Service and his other colleagues are all in Kumasi. They picked up samples of the blood and the post-mortem was done and they are suspecting Meningitis.

“I haven’t had any report that indicates anything apart from the suspicion that we had. I may need a little bit of time to get the report, read it before I can be able to brief the House adequately.”

When asked to give a timeline to submit the full report on the findings, he said: “Some of these investigations are scientific, they take some time. There are some that can take two weeks before you can come out with a report, and, so, it will be a bit naive on my part to sit here and give timelines or deadlines. I can get you informed after I have met the technical people.”

Three more students of the school have been confirmed dead.

The latest report on Tuesday, 5 December, means a total of six students have passed away in the latest tragedy that has struck the school.

The recent three; two females and a male, died at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) hospital, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Cassandra Twum Ampofo confirmed to Graphic Online.

25 more students are on admission at the KNUST hospital with authorities unable to determine the cause of deaths.