Sudanese health ministry denies reports of meningitis outbreak

May 10, 2013 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan’s ministry of health has watered down reports of a meningitis outbreak in the country, while advising people to avoid crowded places as a precaution.

The ministry’s comments followed reports about the existence of suspected cases of meningitis in different parts of the Sudan. It says there have been no new reported cases of the disease.

The director of the ministry’s epidemiology department, Hayat Salah Al-Din, said in a press statement that the ministry had carried out vaccination campaigns for meningitis in 10 states last year and plans to cover the remaining seven states by 17 May.

The vaccine of meningitis is effective for 10 years.

According to the ministry, the meningitis bacteria are transmitted from one person to another through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions.

The most common symptoms of the disease are a stiff neck, high fever, confusion, headaches and vomiting, among others.

(ST)