Meningococcal disease: situation in the African Meningitis Belt
24 May 2012 -
From 1 January to 17 April 2012 (epidemiologic week 17),
outbreaks of meningococcal disease have been reported in 42 districts in
10 of the 14 countries of the African Meningitis Belt 1. These outbreaks have been detected as part of the enhanced surveillance.
The 10 countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Central African
Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Sudan)
reported a total of 11 647 meningitis cases including 960 deaths
resulting in a case fatality ratio of 8.2%. The outbreaks were mainly
caused by the W135 serogroup of Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) bacteria.
In response to the outbreaks, the Ministries of Health
implemented a series of preventive and control measures which included
enhancement of surveillance, case management, sensitization of the
population, strengthening of cross border collaboration and provision of
vaccines through the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine
Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control (ICG).
The ICG released a total of 11 000 vials of antibiotic
(Ceftriaxone) and 1 665 673 doses of vaccines to six countries (see
table below 2) most affected by the epidemic, upon requests.
The vaccines released include 919 023 doses of polysaccharide ACW/ACYW
vaccine, 746 650 doses of meningitis A conjugate vaccine and 81 418
doses of polysaccharide AC vaccine.
The ICG is working with manufacturers and partners to ensure
the stockpiles of the appropriate vaccines are maintained in sufficient
quantities, for responding effectively to epidemics in the future. ICG
partners include WHO, International Federation of Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies (IFRC), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), and
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The emergency stockpile was established with the support of
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI). The vaccination
campaigns were conducted with the support of MSF, UNICEF, IFRC, the
European Community Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO), and the United
Nations through its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).
WHO continues to monitor the epidemiological situation
closely, in collaboration with partners and Ministries of Health in the
affected countries.
1 The 14 countries in the African Meningitis Belt
with enhanced surveillance for meningococcal disease include Benin,
Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Côte
d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali,
Niger, Nigeria, Sudan and Togo.
Source: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2012_05_24/en/index.html
