Gambia-based outfit announces success of meningitis vaccine trials
APA- Banjul (The Gambia) The Gambia-based British Medical Research Council (MRC), has announced over the weekend that “favourable results” have been attained in trials

conducted of an anti-meningitis vaccine that will be used in the “West African meningitis belt” that covers about 21 countries in sub Saharan Africa, APA learnt here. A release by the Council said the vaccine which will protect people in West Africa from a lethal and highly infectious form of meningitis known as serogroup A Nesseria meningitis, has shown promising results in a phase 2 clinical trial.

The World Bank-sponsored Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP) at the MRC is now collaborating with the vaccine production company, Serum Institute of India Ltd., to make the new vaccine that will be sold for 40 US cents a dose.

Prof. Tumani Corrah, MRC’s unit Director in Banjul, described the results as “exciting and very promising,” saying “this is yet another clear example of how the MRC is working closely with people and Government of The Gambia to make meaningful contributions towards reducing childhood illness and deaths in The Gambia and the rest of the developing world.”

The MRC release said every 8 to 10 years, this particular strain of meningitis sweeps through 21 sub-Saharan countries, which is referred to as the ‘meningitis belt.’

The countries stretch from Senegal and The Gambia in the west, to Ethiopia in the east. Between 1996 and 1997 alone, more than 25,000 people died from the infection in this region, the Council said.