Suspected meningitis outbreak under control

An outbreak of suspected meningitis in Gitarama and Kigali Rurale prefectures that claimed the lives of some 40 people in September and early October was “currently under control”, with the number of cases and deaths decreasing, WHO announced on Wednesday. The ministry of health and WHO had organised an immunisation campaign targeting 40,000 people considered to be at risk, as well as providing health centres with drugs for treatment of those affected, a statement added. Health centres in Kayenzi, Nyabikenke and Rutobwe had recorded 29 cases and 11 deaths, while 33 deaths that did not occur in health centres had also been reported in the affected areas.