The four students who died at the Kumasi Academy in the Ashanti region died from meningitis and not food poisoning, the Ashanti regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah has revealed.

This caused some sort of fear and panic on campus as it was rumoured that the students died of food poisoning.

READ ALSO: Police deny food poisoning claim in Kumasi Academy mysterious deaths saga

But addressing press conference Wednesday, Mr. Osei said that after an autopsy was conducted on the bodies of the students, it showed that they did not die from food poisoning.

He indicated that through collaboration between the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and doctors from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, “the cause of the deaths has been identified as meningitis”.

According to him, 26 more cases have been identified and health officials have increased surveillance to contain the disease.

READ ALSO: Two SHS students confirmed dead in Bawku

The school authorities are also putting in place measures to decongest the some of the dormitories to contain the spread of the disease.

What is meningitis?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.

The common bacteria, which cause meningitis in Ghana are pneumococcal, Neisseria meningitides and homophile influenza type B.

It could be passed from one person to another through coughing and sneezing and through close contact.

The disease manifests itself as fever, persistent headache, stiff neck and altered consciousness, among other symptoms.