Ethiopia: A serious outbreak in the African meningitis belt
Ethiopia is in the African meningitis belt, and is regularly affected by both the endemic and epidemic forms of meningococcal disease. During 2001, a serious outbreak threatened 8 million people.
In 2002, Ethiopia reported a total of 1 332 cases of meningococcal disease including 185 deaths mainly in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) since the onset of the outbreak in September 2001. The Network provided technical experts to support the Ethiopian Ministry of Health; WHO and its partners in the International Coordinating Group of Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control worked closely with the Ministry of Health to ensure the provision of vaccines to combat this epidemic.
WHO also worked with Ethiopia to mobilize US$ 2.5m to carry out a mass immunization campaign in 5 priority zones, targeting an estimated population of 5.5m (aged 2-30). Financial support was provided under this appeal to cover the cost of vaccine and autodestruct syringes, oily chloramphenicol and reagents, and training of health workers in case management and epidemic response.
See the reports in Disease Outbreak News for more details.