West Nile — EDUCATIONAL institutions in Arua district and the neighbouring Maracha/Terego are to remain closed following a directive from district authorities.

The directive follows the raging scare of the Meningococcal Meningitis epidemic in the region.

The district Vice Chairman Kamilo Ssabo, who is also the secretary for education, said the move follows unanimous decision by the district meningitis task force.

According to the Ministry of Education calendar, secondary and primary schools are due to open on Monday for first term.

"In light of the rapid spread of meningitis, I have written to all school heads that no school (whether private or government aided) must open until after two weeks; that is February 19," Mr Ssabo said on Tuesday "We shall review this as the situation warrants."

This follows reports that the airborne disease has so far claimed 29 lives in West Nile and infected over 826 others in four districts.

Health and local government authorities say more than a dozen sub-counties in Yumbe, Koboko, Arua and the new Maracha/Terego districts are the hardest hit areas.

"By Monday, Arua and Maracha/Terego districts alone had registered 513 cumulative meningitis infections with 15 deaths since January 5" Ronald Ocatre, the district health educator said.

The catastrophic magnitude of the disease has now drawn the attention of World Health Organisation and by press time, 150,000 doses of meningitis vaccine were due to be airlifted for mass immunisation in the region that begins today.

Meningococcal meningitis is an airborne infection mainly transmitted through open sneezing and coughing. Its symptoms include onset of intense headache, acute fever, vomiting and stiffened neck. Health officials say the epidemic's sero-type A and C ravaging West Nile can kill in 48 hours.