Millions threatened by meningitis epidemic in Ethiopia
21 February 2002

Nearly 39 million people are still at risk in Ethiopia from an epidemic of meningococcal meningitis which began in September last year, warns the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The disease has hit densely populated areas of the country and although vaccination campaigns have begun in worst affected districts, concern is growing that the epidemic could spread to other areas unless at-risk populations are vaccinated rapidly.

The International Federation has today launched an appeal for 857,000 US dollars to procure vaccines which the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, with the assistance of the Ethiopian Red Cross, will use in mass vaccination campaigns. The appeal will target one of the worst affected areas, the North Omo zone of the Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples Region where up to 1.8 million people between 2-30 years of age could be vaccinated if necessary. This will be done in close collaboration with partners such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Ministry of Health.

To begin work immediately in North Omo zone, the International Federation has released 117,000 US dollars from its emergency fund to procure drugs for emergency treatment of those who contract the disease as well as 200,000 vaccine doses.

"The latest figures that we have show that since the outbreak began last September, 85 people have died from the disease from a reported 1,332 cases in central and south-western Ethiopia." says Dr Bernard Moriniere, a public health expert at the International Federation. "We need to act quickly to make sure the epidemic doesn't continue to spread to other parts of the country."

Ethiopia, which lies in the African Meningitis Belt, suffers from major outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis every 10 years. The worst outbreaks were in 1981 when there were 50,000 cases and 990 deaths and 1989 when more than 1,680 people died. Last year, an International Federation appeal in support of the Ethiopian Red Cross to vaccinate 1.5 million people, helped contain another outbreak which killed 330 people.

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

Jemini Pandya, Information Officer Tel.: + 41 22 730 4570 / +41 79 217 3374

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.