In the wake of patients in the Farwaniya Gover-norate avoiding visits to the Farwaniya General Hospital , with news of the three cases of meningitis, Ministry of health affirms that vaccination against contagious diseases should be given only if there is an outbreak.

Responding to allegations that the Ministry of Health has made arrangements for all workers in the hospitals to be vaccinated against meningitis, the directors of hospitals have refuted those claims and reiterated the ministry made no such move.

Meanwhile, the Directorate of Contagious Diseases Hospital Dr Jamal Al-Duaij and doctors in Preventive Health have jointly denied receiving any communiqué from the Ministry of Health to vaccinate the hospital workers, including nurses, messengers and cleaners, against the infection.

Available
Dr Al-Duaij noted the quantity of meningitis vaccine available is reserved for HIV/AIDS patients only, and in case there is need for such vaccination, and official request will be submitted to the Preventive Health Department to facilitate the order in detail.

With three cases of meningitis at the Farwaniya General Hospital confirmed, the Ministry of Health has issued a statement through the Undersecretary of Public Health Affairs Dr Qais Al-Dowairi directing all cases to be transferred to the Contagious Diseases Hospital.

The hospital’s director has also said he received a phone call from the Undersecretary of Public Health Friday morning, requesting that patients transferred from the Farwaniya General Hospital for meningitis infection should be placed in isolation.

In a related development, sources from the Health Ministry disclosed that four cases of the infection have been reported at the Farwaniya General Hospital. However, the ministry vehemently denies an outbreak of meningitis in Kuwait, stressing the existing cases do not constitute an epidemic.

It also refuted claims that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an outbreak of meningitis in Kuwait and advised the closure of some health institutions, markets and malls here.

In the meantime, the Ministry urges the general urges the general public to avoid such rumors, noting all, patients infected with meningitis are in stable conditions and undergoing treatment.