Analysis of meningitis outbreak data, Jaman North District, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana

BACKGROUND: Descriptive analysis of meningitis outbreak in Jaman North districts of Brong Ahafo Region. DESIGN: Descriptive secondary data analysis DATA SOURCE: records of meningitis cases were extracted from case-based forms and line list. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The source and pattern of outbreak RESULTS: A total of 367 suspected cases with 44 confirmed were recorded from Jaman North during the period of January to March 2016. The mean age of those affected was 58 ± 13 years. The case fatality rate was 0.82% and the proportion of males to females was 1:1.3 (160/207). The age group most affected was 15–29 years (54.7%) and the least was 45–49 years (3.0%). Streptococcus pneumoniae formed 77.3% of confirmed cases whilst Neisseria meningitides was 20.5%. Cases with Neisseria meningitides came from a border town in La Cote d'Ivoire. CONCLUSION: A protracted propagated meningitis outbreak occurred; and the predominant bacteria strain among confirmed cases was Streptococcus pneumoniae. Cases were mainly females and the most vulnerable group were people aged 15–29 years. FUNDING: This work was funded by the authors. Author BKD was sponsored under CDC (Frontline FETP)-CDC CoAg 6NU2GGH001876.