Meningitis kills four Ghanaian students

Health authorities in Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city, on Wednesday identified meningitis as the cause of death of four senior high school students.

The revelation followed autopsy reports on the bodies of the students of the Kumasi Academy Senior High School who died within a period of nine days.

"Through the collaborative efforts of experts from the Ghana Health Service at the district, regional and national levels, together with an experienced colleague from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the School of Medical Sciences, we can note the cause of these deaths as Meningitis," Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, told the media in Kumasi.

The strain of meningitis was however not disclosed.

He said health officials had intensified surveillance to contain the disease and prevent further outbreak.

The school has recorded 26 more cases after the students' death.

Meningitis is a serious and potentially fatal disease caused by different bacteria.

It is an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord, and usually occurs during the dry season, with symptoms such as fever, body aches, headaches, loss of appetite and stiffness in the neck. Endit