Description of the situation
22 March 1999
Disease Outbreak Reported
An outbreak of meningococcal meningitis, which started in early January, has been reported in most of the country with the exception of 3 regions in the south. The regions most affected are Oio (289 cases, 51 deaths), Gabu (153 cases, 27 deaths) and Bafata (80 cases, 12 deaths). The causative organism has been identified as Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A.
As of 17 March, a cumulative total of 881 cases with 135 deaths has been notified. In 1998, the country reported 112 cases of meningococcal disease, and 12 deaths.
The national health authorities and the local representatives of the Executive Sub-group (IFRC, MSF, UNICEF & WHO) of the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control (ICG) are implementing measures to control the outbreak. These measures include vaccination of populations where the disease reaches epidemic levels and support to the management of cases of meningitis.