Cerebrospinal Meningitis: I thought it was a spiritual attack – Mother of 5-yr-old survivor shares experience

When 5-year-old Jeffrina Fuseini left home for school, she was feeling hearty and healthy. But, returned with complaints of pains in her hip.

Her parents said their initial thought was that perhaps, their daughter might have fallen in school and hurt herself in the process.

“We thought she might have fallen in school during play time. Her Dad took her to the regional hospital the next day and they said it could be infections. They did some X-rays and was given some antibiotics but still, the pain wasn’t going,” she told JoyNews.

The pains of little Jeffrina worsened by the day. She could barely walk, sit nor move. As if this was not enough pain for her to bare, Jeffrina also had sores all over her mouth, making it impossible to eat nor drink.

At this point, her desperate mother had concluded her daughter was under a spiritual attack. She did not know her daughter had added to the Cerebrospinal Meningitis statistics in the Upper West Region.

“We thought it was spiritual because she was just stiff. Her legs and everything was stiff. She couldn’t do anything. It was scary. I least expected CSM (Cerebrospinal Meningitis,” she said.

 

The region battling two deadly outbreaks

Jeffrina tested positive for CSM on March 7. Even though her condition had started deteriorating, she escaped death.

The Upper West Region has been hit with an outbreak of CSM at a time when there is also an outbreak of coronavirus.

At least 40 persons have died of meningitis this year alone with 258 others infected.

The region is known for an annual outbreak of meningitis but health authorities say, this year’s is a different strain which they are struggling to deal with.

Cerebrospinal Meningitis infects 258, kills 40 in Upper West Region

According to the Upper West Regional Director of Health, Dr. Osei Kuffour Afreh, there are no vaccines for this new strain of meningitis hence.

“It’s unfortunate that this particular year, we’ve found something quite unusual.

Previously, we vaccinated inhabitants of the Upper West region with meningitis vaccine, but unfortunately this year, our investigation and analysis have shown that we’re dealing with a strange sub-type of strain which we haven’t had in the region before.

“So all the vaccination that have been done earlier to protect people is working against this particular strain. We’re dealing with a serotype X which have no vaccines in the world, or WHO has not certified any vaccine for that. So it makes the fight a little difficult,” Dr. Afreh said.

 

Why CSM delays are deadly

Meanwhile, the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, has attributed 80% of the deaths on the delay in reporting to the health facilities for medical help.

“The case fatality rate of meningitis in the region is 15.5% which is unacceptable.

“About 80% of the death is as a result of delay in reporting to the health facilities,” he said at a news conference, Wednesday.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord.

The swelling from meningitis typically triggers symptoms such as headache, fever and a stiff neck.