W.H.O . : has killed more than 200 people in the past week in Niger and Nigeria . # ##s across African ` ` meningitis belt , '' at epidemic rates in rural areas . Vaccine shortage forces an ` ` effective prevention '' approach . A spokesman for W.H.O . 500 suspected cases , 300 deaths in the belt in the first 11 weeks of 2009 .
W.H.O . : has killed more than 200 people in the past week in Niger and Nigeria . # ##s across African ` ` meningitis belt , '' at epidemic rates in rural areas . Vaccine shortage forces an ` ` effective prevention '' approach . 500 suspected cases , 300 deaths in the belt in the first 11 weeks of 2009 .