NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Minister of Health, Hygiene and Prevention, Doctor Jean-Jacques Mbungani, Thursday declared the end of the meningitis epidemic in Banalia, Tshopo province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The epidemic was declared on September 7.

Neisseria meningitidis
Image/CDC

The outbreak accounted for 2,662 cases of meningitis including 47 confirmed and 205 deaths, with a case fatality rate of 7.7%.

“Considering that there has been no infections for several weeks and the attack rate having fallen below the alert threshold for two consecutive weeks, I am happy to declare the end of the meningitis epidemic in the area. health center in Banalia in Tshopo province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” he said.

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In addition, he explained that the factors of the major success of the response were linked mainly to the availability of the vaccine (162,518 people aged 1 to 49 vaccinated), specific drugs against meningitis, the bringing together of treatment sites. advanced to the communities, as well as to the contribution of all the technical and financial partners of the government.

However, said Dr Mbungani, the response teams remain vigilant, because the risk of a resurgence of epidemics remains and must, according to him, serve as a warning signal for the epidemiological surveillance system to be strengthened. As a result, the Minister of Health recommended maintaining community-based alert and surveillance mechanisms in order to remain vigilant throughout the post-meningitis epidemic period.