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October 2, 2002

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Burundi; Health Ministry Appeals for More Meningitis Vaccine" Africa News Service (www.allafrica.com) (10/01/02)

An increase in meningitis cases in Burundi's Gitaga and Karuzi provinces has forced the country to request additional stocks of vaccine against the disease.  As of September 22, the Burundi government had recorded 688 meningitis cases since July, including 56 deaths.  The World Health Organization has already shipped 650,000 doses of vaccine, which are now being distributed to the provinces of Muyinga, Ruyigi and Cankuzo.  Officials say the Burundi outbreak, which is the worst in a decade, coincides with outbreaks in neighboring Rwanda and Tanzania, where cases were first reported in June and August.

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