Via All Africa :
" The health ministry on Friday declared South Sudan meningitis free and denied media reports that an outbreak of the disease had occurred in parts of the country, which reportedly lies in the "meningitis belt."
Lul Riek, the ministry's director general for community and public health said in the last six weeks, only 24 suspected cases were reported in the country, through its surveillance reports conducted weekly.
Of the 24 cases, 20 were reported in Central Equatoria state, while the other four were from other unspecified states.
"[Out] of the reported suspected cases, 5 specimen of cerebral spinal fluid specimen were collected and sent to AMREF reference laboratory in Nairobi. These specimens tested negative for Neissaria Meningococcal meningitis," said Riek, in reference to the bacteria that causes meningitis.
The health ministry, he assured the public, remains in full alert to respond to any disease outbreak through its emergency unit.
In the case of meningitis, Riek said the ministry, through the state ministries of health, rapidly responded by investigating all suspected cases after samples collected were tested and found to be negative."
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