Luanda, Angola, 11 July 2023 - For more than five years, Angola has been experiencing an increase in meningitis cases, particularly in Huambo province, with a high lethality rate. Between January and May this year alone, 103 patients were reported, of which 42 resulted in death, with an estimated lethality rate of 40.8%.

According to Dr. Kuku Muhau, WHO emergency officer in Angola, meningitis is a severe contagious disease that can kill if the patient is not treated quickly, which worries the Angolan health authorities and the WHO. She added that "for the effective fight against meningitis, WHO recommends six essential approaches, namely 1) epidemiological surveillance, 2) data collection and processing, 3) routine vaccination, 4) safe collection and transport of samples, 5) case management, and 6) risk communication and continuous engagement of communities."