How is MSF responding to the outbreak?
First, we treat the people who contract meningitis, which is relatively straightforward. For children over one year of age and adults, one intramuscular injection of the antibiotic oily chloramphenicol or a high dose of ceftriaxone works extremely well. We treat infants and pregnant women with daily injections of the antibiotic ceftriaxone for five days. To prevent further cases, we will vaccinate at least 25,000 people. We found clusters of cases in a very narrow strip of the area, and there are three health centers — one here in Akuem, and the others in Malual Bai and Malualkon to the east. We should be able to take care of all of the cases in these centers, but if there are more cases from elsewhere we will expand the vaccination campaign. We have some problems, though. It may rain soon, which will give rise to many logistical problems, especially because the roads will become nearly impassable. Also, there is always a concern that there may not be enough vaccines available — becaus
