Via Radio Okapi: DRC: Government declares meningitis epidemic in Tshopo. The Google translation:
The Deputy Minister of Health, Hygiene and Prevention, Véronique Kilumba Nkulu, declared Tuesday, September 7 in Kinshasa, the meningitis epidemic in the province of Tshopo. At least 267 cases, including 129 deaths already linked to the meningitis epidemic, have been recorded in the Banalia health zone. The most affected age group is over 15, she said.
“Nineteen cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected and sent to the Pasteur Laboratory in Paris, France. The first results were released on September 6, 2021 and confirm the presence of Neisseria Miningitidis serogroup W. Several actions were undertaken in the field already before the confirmation, in particular: strengthening of epidemiological and laboratory surveillance, isolation and case management and community awareness,” said Véronique Kilumba.
She also announced a series of government measures to deal with this epidemic:
“A team from the central level is already hard at work on the ground to support the province. A second team is preparing to strengthen technical support from the central level. A response plan is being developed by the Ministry of Health with its support partners. In view of the standards and recommendations of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), on September 7, 2021, we are declaring the epidemic of meningococcal meningitis in the Banalia health zone, in the province of Tshopo.”
