The Ministry of Health has been able to eliminate the meningitis scare in Kuwait, said a senior government official. He added that “the few cases that were admitted to local public hospitals have been cured.”
“Kuwait is free from meningitis, and all rumors about widespread infection are fabricated,” said Minister of Health Mustafa Al-Shamali in statements made to Al-Shahed. Al-Shamali, who is also Minister of Finance, urged media outlets to avoid reporting unconfirmed news “which spreads concern among citizens and residents.”
MoH Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Affairs Dr Qais Al-Duwairi told Al-Jarida that only five cases were diagnosed with neisseria meningitis in Kuwait’s public medical facilities, insisting that these cases are not epidemic. Moreover, Al-Duwairi noted that more than 20,000 people are believed to have made contact with the five infected cases, reported AL-Jarida.