Experts rule out Meningitis as cause of KUMACA deaths

Health experts in the Ashanti Region have ruled out Meningitis as the cause of the recent deaths at the Kumasi Academy, KUMACA.

The officials, however, suspect a bacterial infection in the school.

Speaking to the Media, on Tuesday, December 5 the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, said all test conducted by the health officials proved that the cause of death is not Meningitis as suggested.

“We have done all the tests for meningitis. They are negative, so it shows that the condition is not meningitis.”

He continued the most probable cause was an atypical bacterial infection.

"From the pathologist report, we believe there was an infection and most probably, it is a bacterial infection, and because of the fatalities, it is one of the atypical bacteria that we are dealing with.” he said.

Three more students were confirmed dead on Tuesday morning at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology after three others died last week a day before the school's 60th Anniversary.

The situation has resulted in clashes between authorities and parents who are seeking to remove their wards from the school compound.

Read also: Angry Parents storm Kumasi Academy over student deaths

Meanwhile the school is set to be closed down latest on Thursday, December 7.

According to Dr Renkorang before the closure, a medical team will administer antibiotics to the students and staff to prevent the infection from spreading.

The Health Service officials are partnering with a medical team from the World Health Organization to screen and treat students who have been infected.

Dr. Tenkorang said the team, after administering the antibiotics, will conduct an intensive survey in the school to find the possible source of the bacteria.

Related: Health Minister to appear before Parliament over KUMACA deaths

“From there, we will do an intensive survey in the school. We will scan the entire environment, we will investigate the kitchen, investigate every staff and the environment to see if there is any infection hiding somewhere that is causing this problem.”

He also appealed to parents to be patient, and support the medical team as they try to solve the problem.

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research is also expected to present a report on the cause of deaths on Wednesday, December 6.