The Ministry of Health yesterday urged directors in all health zones to ensure the vaccination of people who are in direct and constant contact with patients known or suspected to have meningitis.

These include staff at health facilities, as well as children aged over two.

Health ministry Undersecretary, Ibrahim Al-Abdelhadi, urged that this be ensured to maintain public safety and peace of mind, especially after the recent increase in the number of patients and some rumors that caused panic.

He said directors of health zones must verify the availability of vaccines at preventive care centers. He stated that anyone in contact with cases of confirmed meningitis are no longer at risk 24 hours after taking suitable antibiotics.

The type of meningitis recently detected, he said, can only be transmitted through droplets of respiratory secretions during close contact such as kissing, sneezing or coughing on someone. It cannot be spread by breathing air where a meningitis infected person has been.

Crowded living quarters are a concern, but there is no need to vaccinate anyone without prolonged close interaction with a suspected or confirmed patient, the official reiterated. —KUNA