Re: Uganda 2012: Suspected Meningitis cases
Re: Uganda 2012: Suspected Meningitis cases
http://www.promedmail.org/eafr
Published Date: 2012-03-24 18:48:59
Subject: PRO/EAFR> Meningitis, meningococcal - Uganda: (Amuru, Oyam), susp.
Archive Number: 20120324.246892
MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL - UGANDA: (AMURU, OYAM), SUSPECTED
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Date: Fri 23 Mar 2012Source: Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) [edited]http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95139/UGANDA-Meningitis-outbreak-kills-16-in-north
Uganda: Meningitis outbreak kills 16 in north
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At least 16 people have died in a meningitis epidemic in 2 districts
in northern Uganda over the past 3 weeks, say health officials. Amuru
District, where the epidemic is spreading fast, has recorded 33 cases
with 14 deaths since [24 Feb 2012], while Oyam District has reported
25 cases with 2 deaths.
The 2 districts are just recovering from 2 decades of Lord'ss
Resistance Army insurgency which displaced over 1.8 million people
and left thousands dead. "The deadly disease is spreading. The number
could be higher as not all come to health facilities," Charles
Okwera, deputy district health officer in Amuru, told IRIN. "We have
stepped up surveillance and alertness following the outbreak. We are
doing everything possible to contain the disease."
The World Health Organization (WHO) in a [21 Mar 2012] statement said
18 suspected cases with 3 deaths were recorded in 3 parishes in Pabbo
sub-county, Amuru District, while 25 cases including 2 deaths were
recorded in Oyam. "In Oyam the sample revealed that the causative
organism was _streptococcus pnuemoniae_ which is a usual bacteria
that causes meningitis of the sporadic nature," said Emmanuel Tenywa,
a WHO official in Gulu.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the lining surrounding
the brain and the spinal cord. It is caused by bacteria and
transmitted through contact with respiratory or throat secretions.
The most worrying type of meningitis is caused by a bacteria of the
subtypes of _Neisseria meningitides_ [edited WJF].
Dust helps meningitis spread
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Medical experts say dust, which is common during the dry season,
leads to an increase in respiratory infections and helps spread
meningitis because the bacteria attach themselves to dust particles,
but "the dry season is ending and there should not be much worry," said Tenywa.
Rukia Nakamatte, a Ministry of Health spokesperson, said an Epidemic
Response Team and health experts had been dispatched to the affected
districts to contain the outbreak. "We have delivered the necessary
drugs and supplies to contain the deadly disease," Nakamate, told IRIN.
Uganda lies within the African meningitis belt, stretching from
Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, according to WHO. The
region, experiences meningitis cycles whenever the dry season sets
in. While vaccination can significantly reduce mortality, the exact
strain of meningitis needs to be identified before vaccines are administered.
Typically, the disease has a mortality rate of 5 to 10 percent, with
death occurring within 24 to 48 hours, while some survivors suffer
brain damage, hearing loss or learning disabilities.
--
Communicated by:
ProMED-EAFR
<promed-eafr@promedmail.org>
[Suspect cases of meningitis have been reported in the 2 northern
Uganda districts of Oyam and Amuru. Parts of Northern Uganda are
located in the African meningitis belt and are therefore prone to
meningococcal meningitis outbreaks every 3-5 years during the dry
season that starts December to April. It is critical to determine if
the epidemic thresholds (10 cases per 100 000) have been surpassed in
the affected sub-counties. Additionally, the bacterial species and
serogroup need to be determined. This determination needs to be
expedited as any further loss of life is unwarranted if they can be
prevented through vaccination.
The HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the Uganda is available
at
http://healthmap.org/r/017v. A map of the African bacterial
meningitis belt can be found at
http://www.medic8.com/images/map4-9.gif. - Mod.JFW]
