Chad declares epidemic after 102 meningitis deaths

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Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jBd73bQSvkYHEbERAAJ5etQAhtPw

Chad declares epidemic after 102 meningitis deaths

NDJAMENA (AFP) ? Meningitis has claimed 102 lives in Chad since the beginning of the year, Health Minister Ngombaye Djaibe said Tuesday, warning that the outbreak had reached epidemic proportions.

"We're declaring a meningitis outbreak in Chad," he told a press conference. "At present, the cumulative number of cases is 871 (since January 1), of whom 102 have died, giving a mortality rate of 11.7 percent."

The health minister of the poor, mainly arid central African nation said that medical workers had managed to identify different strains of meningitis, including "W 135, a strain held to be very virulent."

The infectious disease causes inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain or spinal cord, with symptoms including fever, nausea, strong headaches and a stiff neck. In its most severe bacterial form, it can lead to a coma and death.

Meningitis is widespread in west and central Africa, though it can be prevented by vaccination campaigns.

In 2005-2006, more than 100 people died in an epidemic in Chad, but had been relatively spared until this latest outbreak.

 

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Re: Chad declares epidemic after 102 meningitis deaths

Source: http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/FJTC-7RDH64?OpenDocument

Meningococcal disease in Chad

Source: World Health Organization (WHO)

Date: 23 Apr 2009


From 29 December 2008 to 5 April, the Ministry of Health of Chad reported 922 suspected cases of meningococcal disease including 105 deaths (case-fatality rate: 11.4%). So far, three districts have crossed the epidemic threshold, including a district in the capital, N'Djamena, while five districts are on alert.

Thirty three specimens of cerebral spinal fluid have been found positive for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 and 30 specimens for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A, by latex, culture and PCR, suggesting that both serogroups are responsible for the epidemic.

The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control has provided 164,000 doses of trivalent ACW vaccine for a mass vaccination campaign in affected areas of Dourbali, Goundi and Pala district. Additionally, 704 300 doses of trivalent vaccine have been released this week, which will be used for an immunization campaign in the capital, planned to start next week.

WHO, UNICEF, M?decins sans Fronti?res and the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) are working with the Ministry of Health, Chad to implement vaccination campaigns as well as other emergency control measures, including case management and surveillance in neighbouring districts.