Meningitis outbreak in northeast contained - health official

The meningitis outbreak that was recently reported in northeastern Uganda has been contained, a senior Ugandan health ministry official said on Monday.

Some 321 cases, including 29 deaths, have been recorded since December when the disease was first reported in the Karamoja region - which includes the districts of Kotido, Moroto and Nakapiripirit.

"We have contained the epidemic, as we have not recorded new cases in the past five days," said Sam Okware, the director of health services.

He added that normal activities could resume in the affected districts, including the reopening of schools, which had been delayed, and campaigns ahead of this month's presidential and parliamentary elections.

A team of medical workers from the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children's Fund have pitched camp in the region - particularly the worst affected areas of Nabilatuk and Namalu sub-counties in Nakapiripirit district - to tackle the outbreak.

All residents of Nakapiripirit, which was the epicentre of the disease, had been immunised. Okware said Uganda was encouraging people from neighbouring Kenyan districts to cross the border for treatment and immunisation.

"We are encouraging residents of areas near the border to come in for treatment because this is nearer then where they could get treatment on their side of the border," he said.

At least 12 people have died since January from a meningitis outbreak that has spread from northeastern Uganda to Kenya's West Pokot district.

Meningitis is an infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord. The bacteria are transmitted through respiratory or throat secretions. Symptoms include a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting.