HEALTH WATCH: Meningitis vaccination alert

 ARRIVING PASSENGERS who have recently visited West Africa are being monitored at Tocumen International Airport following a bacterial meningitis outbreak that by April 25, had affected 1,543 people and claimed the lives of 147. Residents flying to West African countries have been advised to have a meningitis vaccination.

The Ministry of Health  Department of Epidemiology has received notification of an outbreak of bacterial meningitis in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria
Monitoring is also being carried out in other border points of entry, and internal coordination with airlines and shipping agencies is ongoing to alert the presence of any traveler from these affected countries.
The MoH is also maintaining communications with the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization for regional coordination to control the latest epidemic