AFRICA/ETIOPIA - 40 people have died of meningitis in the last five months: alarm for 433 people infected

Rome (Fides Service) - At 40 people in Ethiopia, in the last five months have died as a result of an outbreak of highly infective meningitis which has infected 433 people.
Tigrè in the north, Afar in the east and Benshangul-Gumuz in the west and the eastern part of the southern region of Oromo are the most affected areas. WHO says that doses of vaccine distributed in these zones should stop the number of infections. Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord that causes fever, headache and a stiff neck. In severe cases, it can cause brain damage and even death. The bacteria causing the disease are transmitted from person to person through droplets of respiratory tract or throat secretions.
. Symptoms include fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and skin rash. The “doorway” can be blood circulation, or respiratory dental or ear infections.
The diffusion of different forms of meningitis varies from one country to another and one age group to another. Consequences can be: brain damage; deafness; blindness; co-ordination of movements; learning difficulties; speech difficulties; disturbed behaviour . (AP) (14/4/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:25; Parole:263)