Joint appeal to contain meningitis epidemic

The Sudanese government and several UN/NGO agencies have appealed for US $5.6 million to help contain the country’s meningitis epidemic that has so far affected about 2,300 people in 15 states. A Joint Appeal document received by IRIN on Friday said the funds were required to vaccinate 7.6 million people and to treat an anticipated 28,000 cases in 18 states during the March-June period. Some 263 people have died from the disease since the outbreak started in December. The appeal document warns that the case fatality rate could reach up to 50 percent in the absence of appropriate and prompt treatment. Although the government has provided a “significant proportion” of the required supplies, there was “still a big gap which should be filled by the development partners and donors,” the document said. Vaccination campaigns have started in areas where cases have reached epidemic level, it said. Agencies participating in the appeal are WHO, UNICEF, MSF, IFRC/Sudan Red Crescent, SCF and the government. In addition to mass vaccination, the plan also includes heightened epidemiological and laboratory surveillance, public information education activities and training of health personnel. A complementary appeal will be developed for areas under rebel control, the document said. Rapid response to the appeal was “critical,” WHO meningitis expert Maria Santamaria told IRIN on Friday. “This is a case where donors can make a difference,” she said, adding that government health authorities had been “doing the best they can” to contain the outbreak. She said the epidemic could potentially spread to other countries in the region. Health authorities in neighbouring countries have been put on alert and are taking steps to protect their populations from the disease, she added.