Meningitis is a serious infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitides that may lead to meningitis or severe septicaemia.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed outbreaks of the deadly meningitis bacterium in three West African countries, marking the start of what experts have warned might be the worst meningitis epidemic to hit Africa in a decade.
On the 29th April 2013 the Health Ministry reported an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis in Guinea (West Africa)
Guinea lies in the meningitis belt, an area which covers 25 sub-Saharan African countries where the incidence of the disease is particularly high. Outbreaks normally spread along the trucking routes, and spread throughout West Africa and often countries further afield.
All travellers are advised that a Quadrivalent meningococcal meningitis vaccine is available for those considered to be at risk, especially if mixing with the local population during the high risk season; generally between Dec-Jun and should be used to protect against the most likely serotypes encountered during travel, A, C, W-135 and Y. The Meningitis C vaccine given in the UK, will not protect against the strains normally to be found in sub Saharan Africa which are meningitis A and W135.
Transmission is through droplet infection from infected individuals, coughing and spluttering. Incubation is usually between 2-10 days, and the illness will rapidly progress over hours/days. 10 percent of people are dying within 2 days in this present outbreak.
Common symptoms include one or more of the following: Sudden onset of fever, intense headache, nausea/vomiting, photophobia, neck stiffness, rash that doesn't blanch on pressure and should be treated as a medical emergency. Protect yourself by getting vaccinated
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