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MALI<br />
CHARACI'ERISTICS OF THE DISASTER<br />
EVEKT:<br />
Meningitis Epidemic<br />
DATGTIME: January-May 1969<br />
LOCATION:<br />
Bamako and surrounding towns<br />
DISASTER Vim: Deaths Total-Cases<br />
5 0 m . ) 4,000 (est.)<br />
DESCRIFTIa OF !RE DISASTER<br />
Meningitis is endemic to Mali with the Nghest incidence of cases normally<br />
occurring between January and May. Eue to a variety of conditions including<br />
an unseasonably hot and dry "winter" season in the country, the incidence<br />
of cases for EBmsko reached epidemic proportions in 1969. Evidence of this<br />
first began to appear in late January and by February new cases and deaths<br />
reached alarming proportions. For example, between January 5 and February<br />
20, %mko had 1,300 cases wlth 11% death rate. The chmnic poor health<br />
of much of the poorer population of Bamako, their affinity for gathering in<br />
large pups aggravated the situation, leading to a high rate of infection.<br />
A few other towns east of Bamako experienced a severe incidence of meningitis<br />
but the Ministry of Health<br />
was able to move in quickly and<br />
efficaciously with prophylactic<br />
measures. By mid-May the epidemic<br />
was considered terminated.<br />
The adjoining country of Wper<br />
Volta also experienced a meninyJtis<br />
epidemic.<br />
ACTION TMEX BY GO-<br />
AND LDCAL ORCIANIZATTONS<br />
OF MALI<br />
Health and medical facilities were<br />
taxed beyond their capacities to<br />
deal with the crisis. In an effort<br />
to prevent the disease from<br />
spreading, schools we= closed<br />
until mid-April, and large
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