Kayode Shopekan
129 persons have lost their lives due to meningitis outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani, the meningitis outbreak in the North-eastern Tshopo province of Congo, had killed 129 out of 267 infected persons since the first case was discovered in June.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelWorld Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, confirmed that Neisseria meningitis- one of the most common types of bacteria with potential to cause large epidemics, was discovered in the region, and it’s symptoms vary from fever, headaches, stiff neck, and speech impediments.
The Regional Director admitted that Congo’s healthcare system has been affected by years of armed conflict, under funding, and incessant outbreaks of diseases like Ebola, endemic cholera, measles, bubonic plague and the popular Covid-19, and promised that medicines and medical experts are being deployed to bring the outbreak under control in the shortest possible time.
Meningitis can be transmitted by kissing, sneezing, uncontrolled coughing, or living in close quarters with an infected person. Also, people of all ages can catch the disease, especially babies, children and young adults.
