EC gives funds to tackle meningitis

The European Commission has allocated one million euros (about US $873,534) to help control a meningitis epidemic in Ethiopia. As of 3 March, the Ethiopian health ministry reported a total of 2,329 cases of meningitis, including 118 deaths. The disease first broke out in September 2001, with the Southern Region worst-affected. About 2,022 cases have been reported there, with 89 related deaths. According to an EC statement, the funds are being channelled through the Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) to non-governmental organisations involved in tackling the current outbreak. The money will be used to support mass vaccination campaigns, to purchase the vaccines and to improve treatment in the affected areas. The Ethiopian government has appealed for US $2.5 million to deal with the outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported.