Kampala — MENINGITIS has killed at least three people and left 22 others admitted to various health centres in Moyo district, the district disease surveillance officer has said.

Simon Amudra noted that the most affected sub-counties were Aliba, Dufile, Metu, Itula and Moyo.

He was last week briefing local leaders at the health department head office to allay the fears of a new outbreak of meningitis.

"About 75% of the suspected cases were not vaccinated in last years exercise although many of them were within the (vaccination) age group of between 2-30 years," Amudra explained.

This is the second time the infectious disease strikes in less than six months.

The deputy district health officer, Dr. Jimmy Opigo, described the new outbreak as unusual "because we expected it to break (out) again in 10 years time."

He, however, pointed out that the cases had not yet reached epidemic level.

"An epidemic is determined by the number of the people infected within a week among a thousand people which we have not yet reached."

Opigo appealed to residents to report any suspected meningitis cases to the nearest health centre.

"Any person with stiff neck, vomiting and severe headache, should be rushed to the nearest health centre.