Sixteen die of meningitis in southern state

Preparations are under way to vaccinate hundreds of thousands of people in the southern Sudanese county of Yei, Central Equatorial State, after an outbreak of meningitis killed 16 people, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said.

The deaths occurred between 1 September and 8 November, the health agency said in a statement on Tuesday. Another 231 suspected cases have been reported.

The outbreak was confirmed by an investigation conducted by the state health ministry with the support of WHO's Early Warning and Response Network team and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A national multi-sectoral task force is coordinating the outbreak response.

"Enhanced surveillance, case management, and social mobilisation are under way, as well as the preparation of a vaccination campaign targeting 294,000 people in the affected area," the health agency noted. In January, 136 cases of suspected meningitis, including 15 deaths, were reported in six Sudanese states, including Khartoum, Blue Nile, Kassala, Sennar, West Darfur and Gederef. According to WHO records, the disease infected 3,703 people in 14 states in 2005, killing 124.

Meningitis is an infection of the thin lining around the brain and spinal cord.

The bacteria are transmitted through respiratory secretions. Symptoms include a stiff neck, high fever, sensitivity to light, confusion, headaches and vomiting.

eo/mw