ABSTRACT
Meningococcal meningitis, an acute disease characterized by high morbidity and mortality during epidemics, is of considerable public health importance in Ethiopia, Sudan, and other countries in the Sahel. Meningococcal meningitis has always been underreported in Ethiopia, even after the Ministry of Health (MOH) implemented a nationwide surveillance system in 1977. The surveillance of meningococcal meningitis in Ethiopia is carried out by the routine surveillance system of the MOH and rapid surveillance systems developed specifically for meningitis. World Health Organization also recommended that research on the causes of meningococcal meningitis epidemics be carried out. The 1987 –1988 meningitis epidemic in Addis Ababa illustrates some of the accomplishments and problems faced by the MOH. The criticism has been made that neither one of the above measures can stop meningococcal meningitis epidemics. It has been suggested that immunization focused on specific communities subject to outbreaks, together with supplementary immunization of high-risk groups, might be more effective.
