By Raymond Baguma

THE health ministry has reported an outbreak of meningitis in Masindi district, a week after the deadly disease was reported in Hoima and Arua districts.

The director of clinical services in the ministry, Dr. Kenya Mugisha told The New Vision yesterday that 15 cases of meningitis had been reported in Masindi, with four deaths.

He said the outbreak had affected Pakanyi sub-county.

“There are fears that it may be spreading to Kigumba,” said Mugisha.

He said rapid tests had been carried out on patients which confirmed meningitis.

The outbreak in Masindi follows reported outbreaks in Dadama and Oluko sub-counties in Arua and Kigorobya sub-county in Hoima.

Mugisha said the ministry was preparing to carry out a mass vaccination exercise in the affected districts.

The ministry identified the outbreak to be the meningococcal meningitis which is caused by bacteria transmitted from person-to-person through contact with throat secretions.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which is the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
The disease is also spread by being in close contact with a patient.

Living in congested and poorly ventilated premises with an infected person increases the risk of the spread of the disease.

The most common symptoms of bacterial meningitis are fever, headache, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, mental confusion and vomiting.

Dr. John Turyagaruka, the Masindi district health officer, said the district lies in the meningitis belt that covers the areas of southern Sudan and northern Uganda and outbreaks are normally anticipated during this time of the year.

He also said the district was using stocks of drugs that were earlier dispatched to the district following a meningitis scare in November.

The district health department is carrying out public sensitisation on the outbreak.