80 meningitis cases 'normal'
2003-08-11 22:50
Johannesburg - Between 80 and 90 cases of meningococcal meningitis were, on average, reported to health authorities in Gauteng each year and this year's figure was roughly the same, the Gauteng health department said on Monday.
The department on Monday sought to assure the public there was no outbreak of meningococcal or bacterial meningitis in the province.
Between January 1 and August 3, 88 laboratory-confirmed meningococcal meningitis cases were notified to the department, 88 and 82 cases were reported during the corresponding periods for 2001 and 2002 respectively, the department said in a statement.
"(This indicates) that there is no significant difference in the incidence for 2003 as compared to the previous two years."
It added that meningococcal- and bacterial meningitis were seasonal conditions in South Africa and that the country was currently at the height of the season.
Meningococcal meningitis was a notifiable medical condition in South Africa, meaning that all cases of suspected and confirmed meningitis in both public and private health institutions had to be reported to the Department of Health.
"The cases reported to date in 2003 in Gauteng are spread over four of the six health districts, with 60 cases having occurred in (the) Johannesburg metropolitan health district, 14 in the West Rand health district, six in the Ekurhuleni metropolitan health district and eight in the Tshwane metropolitan health district. Nine deaths have occurred out of the 88 cases notified, indicating a case fatality rate of 9.7% - within known limits of the disease globally."
The department added that multi-professional rapid response teams were in place in all health districts to launch rapid case investigations and implement prevention and control measures as soon as laboratory-confirmed cases were notified to the health authorities.
Preventive precautions
Preventative precautions included educating the public on the need to reduce direct contact and exposure to droplet infection, by, for example, using disposable paper tissues to wipe noses and to cover both nose and mouth when coughing.
Other preventative measures included not sharing cigarettes or glasses and minimising close body contact, for example kissing, and reducing overcrowding in living quarters and workplaces, such as barracks and schools.
"If the public takes the necessary preventive precautions, seek timeous medical care for suspicious symptoms and confirmed laboratory cases and medical doctors notify health authorities timeously, severe complications and fatalities can be limited."
Medical staff were reminded to immediately notify suspected cases telephonically to their closest health authority, as well as the Gauteng Communicable Disease Hotline at 082-372-0554.
The department added that meningococcal meningitis was characterised by a sudden onset of fever, intense headache, nausea and often vomiting, stiff neck and, frequently a fine pinkish rash that sometimes forms little blisters. Delirium and coma often develop.
Meningococcal infections may occur anywhere and any time, but tend to be seasonal, peaking in the late winter to early spring.
The incubation period varies from two to 10 days, averaging three to four days.
The period of communicability lasts until the bacteria are no longer present in discharges form the nose and mouth.
Meningococci usually disappear from the throat and nose within 24 hours after institution of treatment with antibiotics to which the organisms are sensitive.
- SAPA