Strep pneumonia has claimed 13 lives out of the 50 recorded cases in health facilities in the Upper West Region from January to June, Madam Justina Zoyah, Regional Disease Control Officer has said. She said the disease had become a major challenge to health authorities and gave the assurance that as from next year a new vaccine, the pnoeumococol vaccine, would be introduced to treat the disease. Madam Zoyah was briefing members of the Regional Epidemic Committee on the situation of epidemic prone diseases as at 30th June 2011 at a meeting in Wa. She said W135 meningitis has also claimed two lives out of 26 recorded cases within the same period. Madam Zoyah said the health directorate had implemented some strategies to help reduce the incidence of epidemics. She said orientation clinics had been organised for its staff on cholera and other epidemic prone diseases while daily and weekly surveillance on all epidemics was ongoing. The directorate has also supported Nadowli, Wa East, Sissala West Districts and Wa Municipality to carry out integrated case search on leprosy, tuberculosis and Guinea worm. Other measures that have been implemented include the launch of Guinea worm Communication Strategy at Ducie in the Wa East District and the inauguration of Regional Guinea Worm Communication Task Force. Madam Zoyah said the directorate had embarked on public education on Cerebrum Spinal Meningitis at sub-district and community levels throughout the region. Source: GNA/Ghana