Meningitis: Noguchi tracing causal bacteria

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) in Accra has intensified its research to identify the exact bacteria responsible for the outbreak of different strains of Meningitis in the country, the Minister of Health has revealed.

Mr Alex Segbefia, who was invited to parliament on Thursday 4 February, 2016 to brief the House on the current situation and measures adopted to curb the spread of the disease, indicated that the “Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research is leading efforts to determine the exact serotype of bacteria causing the disease. They are being supported by the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research and CDC of the US Medical Council”.

The country has been hit by deadly Meningitis strains that have led to 85 deaths and over 456 infections across the country.

Until now, Cerebrospinal Meningitis was the only known Meningitis variant in the country and it occurred mainly in the northern parts of Ghana.

But two new strains – Pneumococcal and Meningococcal – have emerged, despite massive vaccinations against Cerebrospinal Meningitis in previous years.

The disease started last year in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region, but has now spread across the country, except the Central region.