South Sudan on high alert over suspected meningitis outbreak

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Source: http://www.africareview.com/News/Sou...4/-/13kvpsh/-/

South Sudan on high alert over meningitis outbreak
By MACHEL AMOS in JubaPosted Saturday, February 18 2012 at 13:38


South Sudan and its health partners are on high alert over a possible outbreak of meningitis in the infant country.

The country lies on the meningitis belt that stretches across Africa from Senegal in the West to Ethiopia in the East, putting it at high risk of an outbreak in this dry season.

According to experts, meningitis breaks out in the belt every four to five years.

"In the last six weeks of 2012, so far 24 suspected meningitis cases have been reported throughout South Sudan. Those were captured through weekly surveillance reports,? Dr Lul Riek, the director general for Community and Public Health said in a press statement on Saturday.

Dr Lul said 20 of the suspected cases were from the capital city Juba and the neighboring Yei County, both in Central Equatoria state...

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Re: South Sudan on high alert over suspected meningitis outbreak

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201202200111.html

South Sudan: Health Ministry Declares Nation Meningitis Free
By Julius N. Uma, 19 February 2012

Juba ? The health ministry on Friday declared South Sudan meningitis free and denied media reports that an outbreak of the disease had occurred in parts of the country, which reportedly lies in the "meningitis belt."

Lul Riek, the ministry's director general for community and public health said in the last six weeks, only 24 suspected cases were reported in the country, through its surveillance reports conducted weekly.

Of the 24 cases, 20 were reported in Central Equatoria state, while the other four were from other unspecified states.

"[Out] of the reported suspected cases, 5 specimen of cerebral spinal fluid specimen were collected and sent to AMREF reference laboratory in Nairobi. These specimens tested negative for Neissaria Meningococcal meningitis," said Riek, in reference to the bacteria that causes meningitis.

The health ministry, he assured the public, remains in full alert to respond to any disease outbreak through its emergency unit...