Health Ministry halts large-scale meningitis vaccinations

Burkina Faso's Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday it was suspending large-scale vaccination against two meningitis strains and, instead, concentrating on treating victims with chloramphenicol drugs. Health officials had been vaccinating against the A and B forms of the disease only, because the vaccine for the third strain W134 strain was unavailable in the country. The ministry said most new cases are infected with the W135 strain of meningitis that African Muslim pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, introduced into Burkina Faso in 2000. So far, meningitis has killed 813 of the 6,145 reported cases since it was isolated in Burkina Faso in January, the ministry reported on Wednesday. Just 13 days ago there were 672 dead from 4,758 reported cases. Chloramphenicol can cure all three forms of meningitis. The W135 vaccine exists in limited quantities worldwide and at 35,000 to 40,000 francs CFA (US $47 to $53), for each dose, is too expensive for most Burkinabe. The ministry promised free care to all meningitis victims reporting at health facilities, and called for international aid. The French Embassy in the capital Ouagadougou also reported it would provide the government with 20 millions francs CFA (US $26,910) worth of medicines.