Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83837
Tuesday 07 April 2009
BURKINA FASO: Meningitis ? fewer cases, but more deadly
OUAGADOUGOU, 7 April 2009 (IRIN) - Though Burkina Faso has half as many meningitis infections as of 22 March than in the same period last year, the mortality rate is higher. More than 13 percent of the 2,760 infected people have died in 2009, versus the fewer than 10 percent of 6,604 who died last year, according to the Ministry of Health.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) defines successful epidemic control as keeping the mortality rate below 10 percent.
?We have had a higher mortality rate because the majority of the infections [this year] have been caused by [the bacteria] pneumococcus, for which there is no vaccine,? Ousmane Badolo, chief epidemiologist for meningitis control at the Ministry of Health, told IRIN.
Though vaccines are available in rich countries for diseases caused by this bacteria ? which commonly show up in Africa as pneumonia and meningitis ? vaccine development has lagged in developing countries. WHO in 2008 approved a pneumococcal vaccine that The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) is expected to introduce later this year in The Gambia and Rwanda.
When asked how Burkina Faso has been able thus far to limit the meningitis outbreak as compared to Nigeria and Niger, which have together reported almost 30,000 infections according to the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), Badolo said each country goes through cycles. ?Two years ago it was bad in Burkina [Faso] when it was calm in Niger.?
The mortality rate in Nigeria and Niger thus far in 2009 is about five percent, according to WHO.
Badolo told IRIN health workers have conducted vaccination campaigns in Burkina Faso the past three years for the types of meningitis that can be prevented ? even if only short-term. The vaccine currently available in Africa offers protection for at most five years against four strains of meningitis.
Burkina Faso turned to the WHO-administrated free emergency meningitis vaccine stock in 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The Health Ministry?s Badolo said a vaccination campaign has begun in the central district Zignar?, which was placed on alert because it has at least five infections per 100,000 residents. He added the infection there is caused by the ?A? bacteria strain for which the country has more than one million vaccines.
Burkina Faso is expected to be the first country in the world?s highest-risk meningitis zone to start a mass vaccination campaign later this year with a new vaccine promising long-term protection against the most common form of meningitis in Africa ? strain ?A?.
But in the country?s northern Titao district, home of this year?s deadly pneumococcus infections, Badolo said health workers can only treat patients with antibiotics and ?hope for the best?.
Even with early diagnosis and treatment up to 10 percent of meningitis patients die, according to WHO.
pt/bo/np
Tuesday 07 April 2009
BURKINA FASO: Meningitis ? fewer cases, but more deadly
OUAGADOUGOU, 7 April 2009 (IRIN) - Though Burkina Faso has half as many meningitis infections as of 22 March than in the same period last year, the mortality rate is higher. More than 13 percent of the 2,760 infected people have died in 2009, versus the fewer than 10 percent of 6,604 who died last year, according to the Ministry of Health.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) defines successful epidemic control as keeping the mortality rate below 10 percent.
?We have had a higher mortality rate because the majority of the infections [this year] have been caused by [the bacteria] pneumococcus, for which there is no vaccine,? Ousmane Badolo, chief epidemiologist for meningitis control at the Ministry of Health, told IRIN.
Though vaccines are available in rich countries for diseases caused by this bacteria ? which commonly show up in Africa as pneumonia and meningitis ? vaccine development has lagged in developing countries. WHO in 2008 approved a pneumococcal vaccine that The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) is expected to introduce later this year in The Gambia and Rwanda.
When asked how Burkina Faso has been able thus far to limit the meningitis outbreak as compared to Nigeria and Niger, which have together reported almost 30,000 infections according to the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), Badolo said each country goes through cycles. ?Two years ago it was bad in Burkina [Faso] when it was calm in Niger.?
The mortality rate in Nigeria and Niger thus far in 2009 is about five percent, according to WHO.
Badolo told IRIN health workers have conducted vaccination campaigns in Burkina Faso the past three years for the types of meningitis that can be prevented ? even if only short-term. The vaccine currently available in Africa offers protection for at most five years against four strains of meningitis.
Burkina Faso turned to the WHO-administrated free emergency meningitis vaccine stock in 2001, 2006, 2007 and 2008.
The Health Ministry?s Badolo said a vaccination campaign has begun in the central district Zignar?, which was placed on alert because it has at least five infections per 100,000 residents. He added the infection there is caused by the ?A? bacteria strain for which the country has more than one million vaccines.
Burkina Faso is expected to be the first country in the world?s highest-risk meningitis zone to start a mass vaccination campaign later this year with a new vaccine promising long-term protection against the most common form of meningitis in Africa ? strain ?A?.
But in the country?s northern Titao district, home of this year?s deadly pneumococcus infections, Badolo said health workers can only treat patients with antibiotics and ?hope for the best?.
Even with early diagnosis and treatment up to 10 percent of meningitis patients die, according to WHO.
pt/bo/np