Spinal Meningitis Threatens Lives of 450 Million Africans

Meningococcal meningitis is a global burden that affects 1.2 million people every year and causes the death of 135,000 of them.

About 450 million Africans have an increased of risk of contracting spinal meningitis, a disease which can kill in 24 hours, this year, warns medical experts from eight of the continent's countries.

Meningococcal meningitis is a global burden that affects 1.2 million people every year and causes the death of 135,000 of them, said the doctors from west and central Africa.

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‘Health experts warn that African meningococcal meningitis belt that stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia comprising of about 450 million people may be heavily affected by the epidemic outbreaks.’

Twenty-six countries that make up the so-called "African meningitis belt that stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia - an area home to 450 million people - may be heavily affected by epidemic outbreaks," said the doctors at a press conference.

"Meningitis is still a problem, we must react to avoid tragedy," said Dr Elia Gilbernair, a medic at pharmaceutical giant Sanofi which organized the conference.

Dr Gilbernair added that countries don't make calls for stockpiles of meningitis vaccines until the last moment, when an epidemic is declared.

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Over the next decade, the meningitis B vaccine could prevent up to 4,000 cases of meningococcal disease in children younger than five years in the UK.

Mali's Professor Mamadou Keita Marouf called for a mass vaccination program to help prevent the disease responsible for "practically decimating a generation".

Professor Ye Ouattara Diarra, from Burkina Faso, described meningitis as a public health problem and called for increased monitoring to help detect cases early.

World Health Organization Urges Routine Meningitis Vaccine To Avoid Resurgence
Mass vaccination campaigns of meningitis A vaccine have led to the control and near elimination of deadly meningitis A disease in Africa.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned in December of a risk of fresh meningitis outbreaks this year in Africa, particularly Niger and Nigeria which were both badly hit in 2015.

Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord and can be life-threatening. Symptoms include high fever, a stiff neck, vomiting and severe headaches.

Britain's NHS Launches World's First Meningitis B Vaccination Program
The vaccine could potentially prevent over 4,000 cases of meningococcal disease in children under five in Britain, which is fatal one in 10 cases.

Source-AFP