SUDAN: Sixteen die of meningitis in southern state
Pastor Dale Morgan
*SUDAN: Sixteen die of meningitis in southern state*
22 Nov 2006 11:36:27 GMT
Source: IRIN
NAIROBI, 22 November (IRIN) - Preparations are under way to vaccinate
hundreds of thousands of people in the southern Sudanese county of Yei,
Central Equatorial State, after an outbreak of meningitis killed 16
people, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said.
The deaths occurred between 1 September and 8 November, the health
agency said in a statement on Tuesday. Another 231 suspected cases have
been reported.
The outbreak was confirmed by an investigation conducted by the state
health ministry with the support of WHO's Early Warning and Response
Network team and the United States Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. A national multi-sectoral task force is coordinating the
outbreak response.
"Enhanced surveillance, case management, and social mobilisation are
under way, as well as the preparation of a vaccination campaign
targeting 294,000 people in the affected area," the health agency noted.
In January, 136 cases of suspected meningitis, including 15 deaths, were
reported in six Sudanese states, including Khartoum, Blue Nile, Kassala,
Sennar, West Darfur and Gederef. According to WHO records, the disease
infected 3,703 people in 14 states in 2005, killing 124.
Meningitis is an infection of the thin lining around the brain and
spinal cord. The bacteria are transmitted through respiratory
secretions. Symptoms include a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to
light, confusion, headaches and vomiting.