Meningitis epidemic threatens 1 million people in the Central African Republic

(New York/Geneva/Bangui, 11 February 2008): Meningitis is spreading across 3 north-western districts in the Central African Republic and now threatens the lives of up to 1 million people.

National authorities have declared an outbreak of meningitis after several cases and numerous deaths have been reported in the districts of Ouham, Ouham Pendé and Nana-Grebizi in the first five weeks of the year.

National stocks of vaccines for the lethal disease are running short. The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested $100,000 from the United Nations Emergency Response Fund (ERF). The money has been released immediately to buy vaccines for some 80,000 people at the centre of the epidemic.

'Protecting the people in the north of the Central African Republic will prevent meningitis from spreading to the rest of the country and into neighbouring Chad. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, and the government are saving lives by working together,' said John Holmes, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The Emergency Response Fund (ERF) is part of an aid programme in the Central African Republic supported by donors with $69 million to protect, feed, and care for people displaced and struck by violence.

'Once again, this Fund enabled us to immediately help those who need it,' said Toby Lanzer, United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in the country. 'We count on donors to continue supporting our efforts so that more lives can be saved,' he added.

The health situation in the conflict-torn north of the Central African Republic remains dire. Over three quarters of the population have little, if any, access to healthcare and life expectancy stands at 43 years, one of the lowest in the world. The health crisis comes on top of the violence affecting over 1 million people across the north of the country. There are currently 197,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in the Central African Republic. Another 98,000 people have left the country to seek refuge in Chad, Cameroon, or Sudan.

For further information, please call: Christina Bennett, OCHA-NY, +1 917 367 8059; Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570; Nancy Snauwaert, OCHA-CAR, +236 75 54 2278 or snauwaert@un.org. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.