SUDAN’S meningitis death toll, which stood at 1250 persons last week, has now jumped to 1400, prompting the ministry of health to request the continued closure of schools in the country. The move is aimed at preventing further infections amid rising temperatures that have shot up to between 45-47 in most parts of the country. Health authorities reported that 5000 new cases of meningitis were reported last week alone, raising the total to 22000 since the disease broke out in December 1998.