Meningitis kills six in Gambella

An outbreak of meningitis has reportedly killed six people in Gambella regional state, western Ethiopia, since early October, the pro-government Walta Information Center (WIC) reported on 11 December. The disease which was originally reported in three districts over the last 10 days is now spreading to other districts, the head of the state's health bureau, Kor Patch said, according to WIC. WIC quotes Kor as saying that in the last few days 17 new cases have been reported. Most of the patients were being treated at Gambella hospital and vaccination campaigns were underway in schools, prisons and other areas with high concentration of people, Kor told WIC. The state health bureau has requested more vaccines and funds from the Ministry of Health and the Regional State Council to control the spread of the disease, said WIC.