Fear grips students of SECTEC as meningitis kills one

Medical report indicates that the boy died of meningitis

There is fear and panic among students of Koforidua Secondary Technical School (SECTEC) following the death of a form two student identified as Yaw Dennis.

The student died Friday morning at the Regional Government Hospital, Koforidua of meningitis.

Sources in the school indicate that, the deceased continued to complain to his friends of severe fever and body weakness about a week ago after he took part in the School’s 50th-anniversary float last week but his condition worsened and later complained of a stiff neck.

He was sent to the hospital by some of his classmates Thursday at the knowledge of school authorities.

Uncle of the deceased, identified as Dr. Edwin Okoampa Boadu, in an interview with Starr News said he got to know of the ill health condition of his nephew on Friday but was met with bad news of his death upon arrival at the Hospital.

He said, he quickly went to the School to inform management over the cause of the death of the student to enable them take proactive steps.

“We went to the school to let them know what has happened because we were told in the hospital that it is this ongoing virus, meningitis that has killed the boy so we quickly went to the institution, to inform the housemaster and the leadership that with this situation they should quickly create awareness for the students.”

Health officials are expected to visit the school for epidemiological surveillance and awareness to ensure that the contagious disease does not affect other students.

Sources within the school say the students are saddened and engulfed with fear hence most couldn’t attend dinning Friday but have been assured to remain calm.

The incident is happening at the back of the outbreak of H1N1 2009 virus which has killed four students at Kumasi Academy School in Ashanti Region. Before that, seven students had already died of meningitis in the same school.