No Confirmed Meningitis Outbreak Cases In South Sudan South Sudan’s national Ministry of Health has reported that there are no confirmed cases of meningitis registered in South Sudan as it had been reported earlier in the media.18 February 2012
JUBA, 18th February 2012 - South Sudan’s national Ministry of Health has reported that there are no confirmed cases of meningitis registered in South Sudan as it had been reported earlier in the media. Recently there have been media reports that there was an outbreak of meningitis in the country after suspected cases of meningitis were reported. Speaking to the press at the Ministry of Health headquarters, Lul Riek, the Director General of Community and Public Health confirmed that 24 suspected cases were reported in country with Central Equatorial state recording 20 of the cases. He said of the cases reported, five specimens of cerebral spinal fluid were collected and sent to Nairobi by AMREF for testing and affirmed that all were negative for neissaria meningococcal meningitis, the virus that causes meningitis. “The Ministry of Health would like to assure the public that to date there are no confirmed cases of meningitis outbreak in the country,” reiterated Riek. He called on the public to remain calm saying the Ministry of Health is closely monitoring the situation in collaboration with state authorities, World Health Organization and other partners. Mr. Riek said the ministry took these reports seriously knowing that the Republic of South Sudan lies in the “meningitis belt” that stretches across Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia. He said this puts the population in the country at high risk of outbreak of the disease especially during the dry season. He said the ministry responded after the reports in various ways to ensure no outbreak occurs. He explained the ministry through the state ministries of health responded by investigating all suspected cases and collected samples. He said the ministry has in place surveillance officers in all states for early detection of diseases. Riek also said that the ministry has prepositioned drugs and vaccines and laboratory supplies in readiness of any outbreak. He called on all the people to report any suspected case to the nearest health facility. He also said the ministry was also working on investigating the rumours of suspected outbreak of measles in all the states. He recalled that since the start of year 2012, 140 suspected cases have been reported though out the country. Meningitis is contagious disease shows the following signs and symptoms, with high fever, neck stiffness, headache, vomiting confusion among other. Source: goss.org Posted in: Home, Health -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "South Sudan Info - The Kob" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/SouthSudanKob?hl=en.
