MENINGITIS in Westafrika, und wie steht es auf den Kapverdischen Inseln?
Geschrieben von Beatrice am 09. Juni 2002 11:33:53:
Als Antwort auf: Ich habe eine wichtige Frage! geschrieben von Sammie am 06. Juni 2002 01:38:29:
Hallo!
Wenn man die Kapverdischen Inseln als Teil von Westafrika sieht, dann koennen solche Meldungen einen schon aufschrecken. Obwohl nicht immer das Datum angegeben wird, aber sie beziehen sich auf den Fruehling 2001.
WIe steht es also mit Kapverde? Hat jemad Infos???
Beatricehttp://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/907108498
Meningitis Vaccination
Keywords: Travel Medicine, Immunization, vaccination, travel, meningitis, AfricaRecommended for sub-Saharan Africa
Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis occur frequently during the dry season (December through June) across sub-Saharan Africa. This has always been a concern when traveling across the savannah areas which extend from Mali eastward to Ethiopia. Because there is no evidence of ongoing epidemics, the CDC no longer recommends meningococcal vaccine for travel to Saudi Arabia, Nepal, India, Mongolia, Kenya, Burundi or Tanzania. Vaccination is still required by Saudi Arabia for those embarking on the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Meningococcal meningitis is an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord.
Common symptoms include fever and a stiff neck but the infection can lead to seizures, coma, or shock and can be fatal if treatment is delayed.Meningococcal meningitis is spread person to person, mainly by coughing and sneezing. The risk of contracting the disease increases if you will be spending time in close contact with the local population such as visiting crowded market areas.
The disease is caused by the meningococcal bacteria, most commonly by serogroup A, but can also be caused by type C, or rarely type B. The vaccine that is available will protect against four strains of bacteria including type A,C,Y, and W, but will not protect against type B. A single dose of vaccine should offer protection for at least three years. The vaccine is both safe and effective and has been associated with minimal side-effects.
Gary P. Barnas, MD, Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine,29 September 1998
Last updated 24 July 2001UND:
http://www.canoe.ca/Health0104/25_meningitis-ap.html
Meningitis outbreak has killed at least 3,500 in AfricaThe Associated Press
GENEVA -- A meningitis outbreak sweeping across Africa has killed at least 3,500 people, the International Red Cross said Wednesday.
It said 38,000 cases of the membrane infection had been documented, but that "many more are likely to have gone unreported."
A statement said it was the worst outbreak of the disease in the last decade and has caused a serious shortage of vaccine worldwide.
"There is definitely a crisis," said Dr. Hakan Sandbladh, an emergency health co-ordinator for the International Federation of Red Cross.
The federation and international health organizations are trying to provide supplies to the most affected areas, Sandbladh said.
The federation provided a million doses of vaccine to Ethiopia last month and is sending 400,000 more to Burkina Faso, one of the centres of the outbreak in West Africa, the statement said.
Burkina Faso has reported 1,525 deaths since the beginning of the year, the statement said.
Unless vaccination is widespread, bacteria are likely to continue spreading the disease until seasonal rains arrive in several months, Sandbladh said.
Meningitis, an infection of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord, often surfaces in Africa during annual dry seasons.