Meningitis sweeps sub-saharan africa - Vaccine shortage poses further threat
25 April 2001

At least 3,500 people have died in the worst outbreak of meningoccal meningitis to sweep sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade. From the Red Sea to the Atlantic Ocean, a total of 38,000 cases have been documented but many more are likely to have gone unreported, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The International Federation is procuring an additional 400,000 doses of vaccine for Burkina Faso where 1,525 deaths have been officially reported since the beginning of the year from a caseload of 10,897. This follows on the mobilisation by the Red Cross last month of one million doses for Ethiopia.

"There is definitely a crisis. New outbreaks are being regularly reported and in some places it seems to be spreading like wildfire. Burkina Faso is a particular case and we are anxious to mobilise as many Red Cross volunteers as possible to ensure a high rate of vaccination. Once the rains arrive in a few months time that should reduce the spread of the bacteria which causes meningitis," said Dr. Hakan Sandbladh, International Federation emergency health co-ordinator.

The International Federation today launched an appeal for Swiss francs 480,000 to cover seven of the worst-affected countries, Burkina Faso, Benin, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire where much of the effort will be concentrated on ensuring that Red Cross volunteers get high-risk groups to vaccination centres as quickly as possible.

Dr. Sandbladh said: "The magnitude of the outbreak has caused a serious shortage of vaccine worldwide but together with the World Health Organisation, Unicef, MSF and Ministries of Health we are screening requests for vaccine and ensuring proper targetting while vaccine production is stepped up."

Information and awareness materials are being produced to enable teams of Red Cross volunteers to mobilise the population and disseminate essential messages concerning prevention and early detection of the disease which is spread by bacteria. The mortality rate can be reduced to between 8% to 15% if it is treated in a timely manner.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Denis McClean, Head of Media Service, Tel.: +41 22 730 4428/ + 41 79 217 3357

Christopher Black, Information Officer Tel: +44 22 730 4377/ + 41 79 416 3881

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.