An outbreak of meningitis is reported in the Sidama Zone of southern Ethiopia, Ethiopian government radio reported on 16 November. The head of the zone's health department, Elias Kaito, was quoted as saying, that "seven people had so far been confirmed dead in Dale and Shebedino districts alone", while 93 others were receiving treatment in various clinics in the area.
A United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) officer in Addis Ababa, responsible for communicative disease control, Eyob Tsegaye, told IRIN on Monday that the agency was still investigating, while "there are sporadic cases of meningitis being reported". Eyob said meningitis outbreaks usually occurred between December and January, but "it is a possibility that there may be cases now". He told IRIN that WHO was following up all the reported cases "to have a definite confirmation".
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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