Following the declaration of these cases, local and regional medical services conducted an epidemiological investigation at the level of the Douars and the college of the two students, in accordance with the procedures established within the framework of the national programme for the fight against meningitis", indicates a press release from the Ministry of Health on Sunday.

"Two other suspected cases, identified at the same establishment, were immediately transferred to the provincial hospital of Ouarzazate", adds the same source, noting that "for maximum efficiency, the ministry has dispatched a medical team from the Directorate of Epidemiology and Disease Control to deepen the epidemiological investigation and take additional measures if necessary".

"All cases recorded recently are considered isolated and do not cause any concern", assures the ministry, specifying that "the affected persons have been transferred to hospital services to undergo the necessary biological analyses and benefit from appropriate medical care at the Sidi Hssain Benaceur hospital in the Ouarzazate province".

"The state of health of the four students is stable and they are responding favourably to the treatment", according to the same source.

In addition to these steps, health services proceeded with the usual preventive measures against this disease, in particular the vaccination of all students, teachers and staff belonging to the school establishment, indicates the press release, making it known that in this context more than 800 people have been vaccinated and the relatives of the affected students have benefited from preventive care.

Aware of the constraints facing the health sector in the Tinghir province, and with a view to improving the health offer in this region, "the ministry has planned several projects that will see the light of day soon, including the construction of a new provincial hospital in Tinghir and a haemodialysis centre in El Kelaa M'gouna, as part of a partnership with local authorities, in addition to the project for the extension and reconstruction of the Boumalne Dadès hospital".

"Work at the local hospital of El Kelaa M'gouna is in the process of being finalised and the necessary equipment and human resources are already available", indicates the text, stressing that this structure will open its doors soon to the population of this region.

And to conclude that "the ministry is committed to informing public opinion of all developments regarding the state of health and the measures taken for the protection of the health of citizens".

(MAP-18/05/2014)