Confirmed meningitis cases up to 13

THIRTEEN cases of meningitis in the North have been reported to his office, the Under Secretary of Health and Social Services, Dr Norbert Forster, says Forster said the situation was under control and people should not panic.

Addressing a press conference at the Onandjokwe Lutheran Hospital in the Oshikoto Region yesterday afternoon, Forster said nine cases were reported by the Onandjokwe Hospital, including one death. Oshakati in the Oshana Region has reported two cases and Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Region two cases, he said.”These are just normal cases and people should not panic, since the situation is under control and the Ministry is doing its best to keep the situation under control,” Forster said.According to him, the Ministry cannot yet launch an immunisation campaign or declare an outbreak of meningitis, but health officials are watching the situation closely and do whatever is needed to contain the situation.”If there are between 10 and 15 cases per 100 000 of the population, then we can implement guidelines or standards set down by the World Health Organisation to activate measures, because then it would really be an outbreak,” he said.”The cases we have so far can be controlled and are being controlled.”Forster visited Onandjokwe yesterday with the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, to discuss operational matters with the management of the Onandjokwe Hospital and the leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia.Oshakati in the Oshana Region has reported two cases and Katima Mulilo in the Caprivi Region two cases, he said.”These are just normal cases and people should not panic, since the situation is under control and the Ministry is doing its best to keep the situation under control,” Forster said.According to him, the Ministry cannot yet launch an immunisation campaign or declare an outbreak of meningitis, but health officials are watching the situation closely and do whatever is needed to contain the situation. “If there are between 10 and 15 cases per 100 000 of the population, then we can implement guidelines or standards set down by the World Health Organisation to activate measures, because then it would really be an outbreak,” he said.”The cases we have so far can be controlled and are being controlled.”Forster visited Onandjokwe yesterday with the Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Kamwi, to discuss operational matters with the management of the Onandjokwe Hospital and the leadership of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia.