Meningitis warning "not a major issue"

BRITISH Airways (BA) Travel Clinic's Dr Andrew Jamieson has confirmed that there have been reports of outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in the north, north-eastern region of Ovambo, Namibia but hastens to add that the "casual visitor" - i.e. the traveller doing the "usual" Namibian itinerary such as Sossusvlei, Skeleton Coast, Windhoek etc. - to the country should not be in any danger of contracting the disease.
"However, I would advise self-drive travellers driving up to Rundu or the Kaokoveld to visit their physician or local travel clinic for a vaccination against the disease. This applies especially if the travellers are going to have some contact with the locals."
He says the vaccination should be obtained at least seven days before travelling.
Early symptoms include a stiff neck, severe headache and fever.
The disease is thought to have come from across the Angolan border but Jamieson says it's been "difficult" to obtain exact information from the Namibian health authorities.

(Adéle Mackenzie)