Description of the situation
15 August 2001
Disease Outbreak Reported
Since the third week of May, 77 cases and 17 deaths (case-fatality rate of 22%) have been reported to WHO in the Balombo district of Angola. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A has been laboratory confirmed. The epidemic threshold of 15 cases per 100 000 population per week has been exceeded in the affected district and the cumulative attack rate is 212 per 100 000 population since the beginning of the year. Data from other districts is unavailable at the present time.
On 13 August, a mass vaccination campaign was launched targeting the population of Balombo district over 2 years of age. Médecins sans Frontières is supporting the mass vaccination campaign and has provided vaccines, autodestruct syringes and oily chloramphenical for case management.