Windhoek — HEALTH authorities have downplayed fears of a meningitis outbreak in Windhoek.

Concerned parents called The Namibian at the end of last week raising fears that there might be an outbreak of meningitis at some schools in the City.

While they confirmed that a number of primary school learners had been admitted to the Medi-Clinic last week, Graham Snyman, manager of Medi-Clinic, said they only knew of one case of a child that was treated and discharged.

Namibia last had an outbreak of meningitis in October 2001 when around 50 000 children and youths under the age of 20 were immunised in the North.

Most of the victims that year came from villages on the Angolan side of the border.

Only one child from Angola died during the outbreak.

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that line the skull and vertebral canal and enclose the brain and spinal cord.

Some of the symptoms of meningitis include stiffness of the neck, headaches, vomiting, fever, drowsiness, photophobia (sensitivity to bright lights), confusion, sleepiness and loss of appetite.

The symptoms can develop over several hours or might take one to two days.

Meningitis is spread from one person to another through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions (such as coughing or kissing).

Some people who are infected with the bacteria do not necessarily become ill but may become carriers of the virus.

The outbreak is usually severe in schools, army barracks and other overcrowded areas such as compounds and informal settlements.