Meningitis outbreaks and vaccination strategy

Three outbreaks of meningitis caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A (subgroup III) are described: Niger (1991), Burundi (1992), and Guinea (1993). These outbreaks showed unusual characteristics: a shorter inter-epidemic interval (Niger), unusual geographical location outside the meningitis belt (Burundi and Guinea), and high age-specific attack rates in all age groups (Burundi and Guinea). Mass immunization campaigns mobilized considerable human and financial means (US$ 322000 and 3000 person-days of work for health personnel to immunize 629000 people in Guinea). The vaccination coverage was over 80% in densely populated areas (Burundi and urban Guinea), but below 50% in less populated areas (2427 and 2630 sub-districts in Niger and Guinea, respectively). The preventive fraction (proportion of cases prevented by vaccination) was substantial in Guinea (35% for a vaccine efficacy of 85%) and was higher where the campaign was initiated earlier. An ‘alert’ threshold indicating the onset of an epidemic of 15100000 cases in one week showed good sensitivity (94%), specificity (98%) and positive predictive value (89%) in Burundi, permitting quick decision making outside the meningitis belt. These 3 meningococcal meningitis outbreaks show the need for epidemic emergency preparedness and for vigilance on the whole African continent.