When presenting the results of the rapid health assessment indicate the following:

- confirm the serogroup responsible for the outbreak and determine antibiotic sensitivities as urgent priorities, if still unknown;

- describe the situation; and

- recommend action.

Describe the situation

· Give an estimate of the geographical magnitude and potential health impact by determining the size of the population at risk and the number of projected cases, hospital admissions, and deaths.

· Quantify the available resources and the need for outside assistance based on these preliminary findings (e.g. vaccines, drugs, and logistics and communications support).

Recommend action

· If the epidemic is caused by serogroups A orC, immediate immunization should begin.

· If sufficient vaccine supplies and administrative support are available, mass vaccination of the entire population should be considered.

· If resources are limited, it may be necessary to restrict vaccination to the age groups most at risk, namely those with the highest attack rates or accounting for the largest proportion of cases.

· Prepare and convey assessment findings to epidemic emergency decision-makers at community, subnational, national, and international levels.