W.H.O . The World Health Organization said it was working with the government of Guinea to investigate the outbreak. Outbreak stretches across African `` meningitis belt , '' at epidemic levels in 76 areas . Vaccine shortage forces an `` effective prevention '' approach . 25,000 suspected cases , 1,500 deaths in the belt in the first 11 weeks of 2009 .
W.H.O . : Meningitis killed more than 200 people in the past week in Niger and Nigeria . Outbreak stretches across African `` meningitis belt , '' at epidemic levels in 76 areas . Vaccine shortage forces an `` effective prevention '' approach . 25,000 suspected cases , 1,500 deaths in the belt in the first 11 weeks of 2009 .