The risk of transmitting the germ was reduced by 98 per cent among those who had been vaccinated, according to throat swabs and other evidence. “This is an extremely encouraging signal for those countries that have yet to introduce the vaccine,” said Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, director of the Department of Immunisation, Vaccines and Biologicals at the World Health Organisation (Who). “We are not even halfway done with introducing this revolutionary new vaccine across the meningitis belt of Africa, yet we already have extraordinary results.” Meningitis causes an inflammation of the membranes that protect the spine and brain. It can cause deafness or paralysis and can be life-threatening. Several species of bacteria can cause the disease, but the most prevalent strain is called serogroup A. Around 450 million people are at risk from meningitis A in a band of 21 countries stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia.
MenAfriVac, developed under a public-private partnership, is being rolled out across the “belt” to people aged one to 29. So far more than 100 million people have been vaccinated. An outbreak in 14 African countries in 2009 caused more than 88,000 suspected cases and at least 5,000 suspected deaths
Source: Oman Daily Observer