Medical examination into KUMACA deaths proving difficult – Ghana Health Service

The Ghana Health Service has disclosed that it’s having a difficulty establishing the diagnoses on the typical organism causing deaths at the Kumasi Academy Senior High School in the Ashanti Region.

Four students have died in the school within a week under similar conditions in what was initially thought to be meningitis, throwing the school into a state of fear and panic.

Twenty four students are currently on admission at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Hospital and Konfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.

In total, the number of deaths recorded in the school this year (2017) has hit 11, as seven students died around April.

Test results from the Noguchi Memorial Centre for Medical Research have ruled out meningitis as the cause of multiple death in the school.

Students have begun receiving Azithromycin antibiotics against possible bacterial infection after a stakeholders meeting was convened on Tuesday to find ways of ending the “mysterious deaths”.

The Director of Public Health, Ghana Health Service, Dr Badu Sarkodie in an interview with Kasapa News said from the lab tests it is yet to be known what type of organism causing havoc in the school to enable the Service to know the right vaccines to use.

“We’re to get blood samples from the affected students but unfortunately, the affected students die soon after they’re admitted at the hospital which makes it difficult for blood sample to be taken from the dead body. This is making our investigations challenged, all the necessary things you require including blood samples, water from the body for lab test you don’t get them before the victim dies.”

Dr Badu Sarkodie however added that more experienced health staff workers have been stationed at the schools infirmary to help deal with the disturbing situation.