Kenya launches vaccine to curb meningitis
Kenya has announced that it will inoculate around 3 million people against the highly infectious meningitis A, using a new vaccine.
The vaccine was developed by the World Health Organization in partnership with nonprofit organization PATH for use in Africa. It was launched in 2016 following a call for help by African health ministers.
About 1.4 million people in northern Kenya, especially those areas bordering Southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Uganda - areas considered to be high risk and within the "Meningitis Transmission Belt", will be the first to receive the injectable vaccine.
The exercise, which will be carried out in four areas of Turkana, Marsabit, Wajir and Mandera, will be completed by July 4.
The Ministry of Health has said it is targeting 700,000 residents aged between 1 and 29 within the next nine days.
The largest incidence of Meningitis occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, known as the "Meningitis Belt" that stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east. Neisseria meningitidis is recognized as the leading cause of Meningitis with sero-group A identified as the dominant cause of the disease.
It is an infection of the thin lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord called the meninges. Viral and bacterial infections are the most common cause but bacterial meningitis is much more serious due to its rapid onset and poses a significant risk of death. Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis.
It is transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers. Close and prolonged contact - such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone.
The meningitis A vaccine for Africa, or MenAfriVac, was developed after an outbreak of meningitis A in 1996 infected more than 250,000 people and killed over 25,000 in just a few months. The vaccine costs less than $0.50 per dose and has a high efficacy success according to the WHO.
lucymorangi@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily 06/29/2019 page8)
