Meningitis outbreak begins in West Africa

 
Published: Friday 15 February 2008

Vaccination campaign in Burkin The government of Uganda has confirmed the outbreak of the deadly meningitis bacterium in the country. On January 16, health officials said that 121 people are suffering from the disease in Arua and Nebbi districts alone; three have already succumbed to it.

Meanwhile, who has confirmed similar outbreaks in three other West African countries -- Burkina Faso, Niger and the Democratic Republic Congo -- warning the start of the worst meningitis epidemic to hit Africa in a decade.

While a district in Burkina Faso is on high alert, an epidemic has been declared in some regions of Nigeria and the Congo. who says unlike 2007, it has 25-30 million vaccines available this year and emergency health officials will soon meet to chalk out a plan to thwart the expected epidemic.

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