Description of the situation
27 March 1997
Disease Outbreak Reported
As at 23 March 1997, a total of 24 798 cases with 2 933 deaths from epidemic meningitis had been reported in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Togo. The epidemic in Burkina Faso accounted for 42% (10,429 cases with 1 318 deaths) and in Ghana for 35% where the cumulative number of cases more than doubled from 3 757 (411 deaths) on 13 March to 8 671 (902 deaths) on 23 March. Most (95%) of the cases in Ghana have been reported in Upper East Region (6 364 cases, 497 deaths) and Northern Region (1 867 cases, 281 deaths). Cases have also been detected in Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and Upper West Regions.