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February 21, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Death Toll From Burkina Faso Meningitis Outbreak Climbs to 401" Associated Press (www.ap.org) (02/20/03)

In Burkina Faso, an outbreak of meningitis has infected over 2,400 since October and taken the lives of 401 people, health officials announced this week.  According to Dr. Souleymane Sanou, a senior Health Ministry official, most of the cases have involved the W135 strain of meningitis.  A vaccine exists to protect against W135 and three other strains of meningitis; however, the combined vaccine is expensive, and the vaccine usually used in Africa only protects against the A and C strains, costing just 25 cents a dose.  In an effort to help combat the W135 strain, the World Health Organization recently sent 500,000 doses of meningitis vaccine to Burkina Faso.

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