Description of the situation
12 March 1999
Disease Outbreak Reported
The outbreak that started in Northern Darfur State in December 1998 has now spread to 15 States, some of them reaching epidemic level. From the beginning of the epidemic (01.12.98) up to 9 March, 2 293 cases and 262 deaths have been reported by the Federal Ministry of Health. An appeal has been launched by the Ministry of Health in Khartoum, with support from the executive members of the International Coordinating Group,WHO, UNICEF, IFRC and MSF, for the provision of meningococcal vaccine. There is an urgent need for more vaccines, drugs and technical support to strengthen the surveillance systems and laboratory capacity. There is also a need for logistic support and to ensure appropriate training of health staff at local levels.
The government has already provided a significant proportion of the necessary supplies, and is appealing to its partners to complete the support and resources needed to limit the impact of the outbreak. For futher information from WHO, please contact sadrizadehb@who.sci.eg; whosud@sudanet.net; or santamariam@who.ch.