afrol News, 12 February - Meningitis epidemic has threatened the lives of about one million people in the Central African Republic (CAR), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) disclosed.

The disturbing news is that available vaccines to combat the epidemic that strikes across the northwest region are inadequate.

Meningitis outbreak was declared in CAR after it has killed so many people in the districts of Ouham, Ouham Pendé and Nana-Grebizi between January and February this year.

The CAR government has been collaborating with UN and other agencies to contain the deadly epidemic.

An amount of US $100,000 has been released from the UN's Emergency Response Fund to provide vaccines for 800,000 people at risk.

A battle against the outbreak in the north would prevent its spread to the rest of the country and beyond.

Central African Republic - a landlocked nation - has been synonymous with bloody fighting between government forces and armed rebels.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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