Meningitis outbreak investigation in Nkoranza South Municipality in Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana, February, 2016

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal Vol. 30; no. Suppl 1; p. 4
• Main Authors: Asiedu, Ernest Konadu, Nyarko, Kofi Mensah, Kenu, Ernest, Afari, Edwin Andrew, Frimpong, Joseph Asamoah, Park, Meeyoung Mattie, McNabb, Scott Jn, Iddrisah, Florence Nzilanye
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uganda African Field Epidemiology Network 2018
• Subjects: Epidemiology; Laboratories; Public health; Training; Atlanta Georgia; United States > US; Ghana; epidemiology; Meningitis; Ghana; data analysis; outbreak investigation
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2018.30.1.15261

The occurrence of communicable diseases highlights the need to have well-trained field epidemiologists at the forefront in the fight against these diseases, especially during an outbreak. Training for outbreak investigation is most effective when participants can develop their competencies in a practical exercise. This is a simulation of the steps in meningitis outbreak investigation conducted in Ghana in February 2016 by Ghana Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FELTP) residents and the public health technical team of the Nkoranza South Municipality as a field epidemiologist. This case study is suited to reinforce principles and skills already covered in a lecture or in background reading by providing a practical training beyond the scope of theoretical learning. It is primarily intended for training novice public health practitioners who should be able to complete the exercises in 3 hours.