Togo: 8 dead in the latest outbreak of meningitis

Eight people have died and 80 cases recorded in the latest outbreak of meningitis in Togo.

According to the country’s health minister, Moustapha Mijiyawa, the outbreak occurred in the Kara region.

Analysis from the health ministry indicates that the current strain is the meningococcal meningitis.

The meningococcal meningitis, which is a bacterial form of meningitis, causes infection in the brain and the spinal cord.

Transmitted from person-to-person through droplets of respiratory or throat secretions from carriers, the bacteria’s incubation period is four days.

Symptoms include fever, agitation, vomiting and headaches.

Togo lies in the ‘‘Meningitis belt’‘ which stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia. Meningitis is said to be most common in the dry season.

Last year, more than 200 million people received meningococcal A conjugate vaccine in 15 countries of the African belt.