11.   Meningitis epidemics frequently rage across the center of the continent, from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

12.   Meningitis epidemics in the region usually begin during the dry season from December to February and sometime last more than a year.

13.   Regional meningitis epidemics usually begin during the December-February dry season and can last more than a year.

14.   State health authorities have announced a meningitis epidemic in Chroscice, Wiadomosci said.

15.   The meningitis epidemic seems to be the result of lack of medicine, he said.

16.   The U.N. World Food Programme warned that displaced people were threatened by food shortages and a meningitis epidemic.

17.   MSF-Belgium meanwhile said its teams have seen signs of a meningitis epidemic among Rwandan refugees who have escaped the country to northern Burundi.

18.   Saudi authorities have this year banned Nigerian pilgrims, citing a meningitis epidemic which has gripped Nigeria since December.

19.   The government and the opposition-controlled Bucharest city council have also seized on the meningitis epidemic to attack each other, trading mutual accusations of responsibility.