390 citizens infected and died with meningitis and heatstroke

Sudanese Echoes: Al-Taj Osman

A source in the Federal Ministry of Health has disclosed that 390 citizens have been infected, including 34 deaths, with meningitis and heatstroke. He attributed this to the unprecedented high temperatures, particularly in the Eastern, Khartoum, Northern, and Al-Gezira states.

The Director of Health Care, Dr. Dalia Idris, issued a warning about the possibility of an epidemic of meningitis in camps for the displaced and refugees due to overcrowding.

A Sudanese Echoes investigation – to be published in the inner pages – revealed that the entering of the pentavalent meningococcal vaccine, which provides protection against all five types of meningitis in just one dose, is awaiting support from the Global Alliance for Vaccines (GAV).

There is a plan to launch preventive vaccination campaigns in four states as a first phase, but fighting and power outages may hinder the completion of vaccinations as required.