Ministry To Launch Campaign Against Meningitis

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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“Meningitis outbreak last month broke out in April 15 and got noticed in April 30 in which the outbreak killed three people and with the series of infection from 38 to 70 said to be under medical treatment and care in Malakal teaching hospital,” said the minister Dr.Charles Yor Odhok.

The Ministry of Health together with health partners have plans to conduct massive meningitis vaccination campaign, targeting over 260,000 people living in Makal County and surrounding payams to curb the spread.

Dr. Charles said that the disease has been among the ages of 18-20 years since the time of its occurrence.

He said that the disease can even affect the premature babies and new borne babies plus the adults too so people should be aware.

“The infection does not depend on the sex or ages,” he said.

Meanwhile the National Ministry of Health has said in press release during the outbreak of the disease that there are drugs and laboratory services on the way to Malakal to be used against the disease.

Dr. Charles has said that his Ministry has already identified ten locations as vaccination centres, and is only waiting for the medicines to arrive.

“We have seven centres already plus the three sites that are known to the citizens for easy identification,” he said.

“We shall use the previous identified seven health centres of malaria campaign of last year together with the newly identified areas such as the one in Hai Tenmia, Hai Salaam, Hai Mathar,” he said.

He said the old identified sites will be used because they are already prepared and the new three areas will need tents to be ready.

“We are preparing the vaccinating team, identifying the sites for citizens to go and get vaccinated which has been identified already,” said Dr. Charles.

Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and the spinal cord. According to doctors, the case fatality ratio despite adequate treatment may be about 5-10 percent and typically, patients die within 18 to 24 hours of the onset of the symptoms.

The disease is transmitted from person to person through droplets of the respiratory or throat secretions. The common symptoms are stiff neck, high fever, confusion, headache and vomiting.

According to the Ministry, National and State Epidemic Task Forces have been reactivated to coordinate the intervention responses, heightened surveillance at facility and community levels as well as case management. The Ministry has also transported drugs and laboratory supplies to Malakal.