DRC declares end of four-month meningitis outbreak that has claimed 205 lives

The DRC has eradicated a four-month meningitis outbreak.(File: AFP)

• The Democratic Republic of the Congo has introduced the top of a four-month meningitis outbreak amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
• A complete of two 662 instances and 205 deaths have been recorded, representing a 7.7% fatality fee.
• The DRC lies within the African meningitis belt, protecting 26 international locations.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) eradicated a four-month meningitis outbreak at a time when nationwide sources had been stretched because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the beginning of September 2021, the DRC introduced a meningitis outbreak within the north-eastern Tshopo Province.

Initially, 261 suspected instances and 129 deaths – representing a excessive case fatality ratio of fifty% – had been recorded.

This week, the World Well being Organisation (WHO) introduced that the pandemic had been eradicated after a sturdy public well being initiative.

A complete of two 662 instances and 205 deaths had been recorded, representing a fatality fee of seven.7%, which was an important enchancment from the 50% recorded initially of the outbreak.

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“To deliver the outbreak below management, the nationwide and provincial well being authorities with assist from the World Well being Organisation mounted a sturdy response in a difficult context (Covid-19 pandemic), swiftly establishing native well being emergency administration groups, bolstering illness surveillance, finishing up vaccination drives and offering medical care, together with by cellular clinics,” the WHO mentioned in a press release.

It added that the measures helped to cut back the case fatality ratio – the proportion of deaths amongst confirmed instances.

Meningitis is an an infection often attributable to a virus however can be bacterial or fungal. Signs embrace headache, fever and stiff neck.

“Meningitis may cause devastating outbreaks. It strikes quick and is deadly,” mentioned Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO’s regional director for Africa.

Dr Jean-Jacques Mbungan, the Minister of Well being, Hygiene and Prevention, mentioned as a result of weeks had passed by with none recorded instances, it marked the top of the latest outbreak.

He mentioned: 

Based on WHO information, whereas a pandemic was declared in September, retrospective analysis indicated that infections might be traced again to early June in two iron ore mining areas in Banalia, a district in Tshopo Province.

Meningitis outbreaks within the space are an everyday prevalence as a result of the province lies in what WHO calls the “African meningitis belt.”

“The African meningitis belt … runs throughout the continent from Senegal to Ethiopia and contains 26 international locations. The African meningitis belt is probably the most susceptible globally to recurrent outbreaks,” WHO mentioned in its assertion.

READ | DR Congo declares finish to newest Ebola outbreak

In September, WHO and its companions launched a worldwide technique to finish meningitis by 2030.

“The plan goals to remove epidemics of bacterial meningitis – the deadliest type of the illness – and to cut back deaths by 70% and halve the variety of instances. It’s estimated that the technique might save greater than 200 000 lives globally yearly and considerably cut back incapacity attributable to the illness,” mentioned the organisation.

Like with all different pandemics, WHO mentioned it sought to enhance prevention strategies, illness surveillance, entry to healthcare, advocacy and consciousness in addition to response measures.

The News24 Africa Desk is supported by the Hanns Seidel Basis. The tales produced by the Africa Desk and the opinions and statements which may be contained herein don’t mirror these of the Hanns Seidel Basis.