28 Jan. 1998 -
Ontario, CANADA meningitis update / KENYA/SOMALIA- RVF / ZAMBIA meningitis /
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Kitchener, Ontario (CANADA) *Meningitis Update* (last report 4-5 weeks ago)
Seven cases have now been reported, five of which were residents of
Kitchener-Waterloo, one was a resident of Gueth. The last reported new
case was on Jan. 6.
A vaccination program, which started on Dec. 20, ended just last week.
Only catch-up clinics are operating at this time, according to the
Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (LCDC).
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CANADA - With figures completed through mid-January, the LCDC reports only
sporadic influenza activity across Canada.
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KENYA/SOMALIA - Rift Valley fever (RVF) is widely distributed in Kenya &
Somalia, primarily in animals but also in humans, WHO officials continue
to report.
With heavy rainfall in the last three months, the emergence of RVF can
be expected from areas that have had infections in previous years.
The majority of deaths are in Kenya's Northeastern province and in
southern Somalia.
Epidemiologic analysis of available information indicates RVF is not
the only cause of disease that is being observed in this outbreak.
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Lusaka, ZAMBIA - Health officials in Samfya district have not yet
contained an outbreak of meningitis, and the number of those infected has
increased.
Officials have recorded 40 cases so far at Mambo Primary school, where
an emergency health center has now been established.
Of the 40 cases, seven deaths have been recorded, according to a TIMES
OF ZAMBIA news article.
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<end Jan 28 update>
