Meningitis

Meningococcal Disease: situation in the African Meningitis Belt
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23 March 2012 - From 1 January to 11 March (epidemiologic week 10), outbreaks of meningococcaldisease has been reported in 15 districts in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana (see table below1).
These outbreaks have been detected as part of the enhanced surveillance in theAfrican Meningitis Belt conducted in 14 countries2 where a total of 6 685 suspected meningitis cases including 639 deaths have been reported.
The outbreaks are mainly caused by the W135 serogroup ofNeisseria meningitidis (Nm) bacteria. In Chad, the predominant pathogen is Nm A, although NmW135 contributed to an outbreak in one district. Whereas NmA has always been the leading cause of epidemics insub-Saharan Africa, outbreaks of NmW135 have already occurred in the region, since 2002.
The countries are responding to these outbreaks by enhancing surveillance, reinforcing treatment of patientsand implementing mass vaccination campaigns. The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control has approved the release of 117'500 doses of polysaccharideACW vaccine to Côte d'Ivoire, 195'540 doses of polysaccharide ACYW vaccine to Ghana and 359'000 doses of conjugate Men A vaccine to Chad, along with injection materials and ceftriaxone (antibiotic)when necessary. The ICG constitutes of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and WHO.
WHOcontinues to monitor the epidemiological situation closely, in collaboration with partners and Ministry of Health in the affected countries.
The supply of the appropriate vaccine to respond to W135outbreaks is presently limited, and WHO and UNICEF are working closely with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure that this stock is maintained and adapted to the evolving outbreak situation.
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