New vaccine to protect against meningitis

Ouagadougou (AP):

Health workers will use a new vaccine to protect 20 million people in three West African countries against meningitis, a disease that kills thousands each year on the continent and leaves others brain damaged, officials said yesterday.

Meningitis, an infection of the lining that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, strikes more than 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. A new vaccine developed specifically for use on the continent was approved in June and is now being rolled out in three of the hardest-hit countries: Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

Health officials have lauded the massive campaign, saying the vaccine could stop deadly outbreaks in the region before they even begin. In Burkina Faso alone, the World Health Organisation said some 10,000 health workers will vaccinate 12 million people by the end of the year.