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WEEKLY BULLETIN ON OUTBREAKS
AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Week 14: 28 March – 3 April 2022
Data as reported by: 17:00; 3 April 2022
...
Meningitis Ethiopia
1 398 cases
13 Deaths
0.9% CFR
EVENT DESCRIPTION
A meningitis outbreak has been ongoing in Ethiopia since week 49
of 2021 (ending 12 December). As of week 10 (ending 13 March
2022), a total of 1 398 suspected meningitis cases with 13 deaths
(case fatality ratio (CFR) 0.9%) have been reported from 11 out of 12
regions in the country.
Since the beginning of the outbreak in the country, four regions
(Oromia, Somali, SNNPR, Amhara) crossed the epidemic threshold
and five regions (Harari, Afar, Addis Ababa, Benishangul-Gumuz and
Gambella) crossed the alert threshold.
Five regions, namely Oromia, Somali, SNNPR, Amhara, and Harari
account for 87.8% (1 228 cases) of the total suspected meningitis
cases reported. Oromia region has been the most affected, reporting
610 (44%) cases, followed by Somali with 211 (15%) cases, and
SNNPR with 154 (11%) cases.
As of 13 March 2022, a total of 69 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples
have been collected. A total of 32 samples were collected from health
facilities while 37 from sentinel sites. Of the 14 CSF samples that
were analysed at the National Institute of Communicable Disease
in South Africa, two were positive for human herpesvirus and one
sample positive for Neisseria Meningitidis.
In week 10 of 2022, a total of 107 suspected meningitis cases
with zero death were reported nationally from 47 woredas across
10 regions. A total of 27 woredas were in alert threshold, while no
woreda crossed the epidemic threshold.
PUBLIC HEALTH ACTIONS
Pre-deployment training was conducted for the Rapid Response
teams
Capacity building for laboratory management is ongoing and
cerebrospinal fluid collection from suspected meningitis cases
continues. Samples are being shipped to the regional referral
laboratories
The government is ensuring adequate case management. The
request for Ceftriaxone antibiotic for case management was
submitted to the International Coordinating Group (ICG)
SITUATION INTERPRETATION
Ethiopia is one of the African countries affected with both armed
conflict and natural disasters (drought, disease outbreaks) including
the ongoing meningitis outbreak. Although a relatively low CFR
has been recorded for the meningitis outbreak, it is important that
the necessary actions are implemented for its control and prevent
any deterioration. A mixed etiology (bacterial and viral) has been
identified so far, yet the total number of samples analyzed is
relatively low. More sample collection and analysis are needed to
identify the dominant pathogen and request the appropriate vaccine
for response.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
n-country laboratory capacity building should be considered
as a priority to prevent any delay in diagnosis of the bacterial
pathogen and request the required vaccine for the response.
The national authorities and partners should provide adequate
funds, logistics and drugs for case management.
View/Open
OEW14-280303042022.pdf (1.938Mb)
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/352849
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