Emergence of epidemic Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C in Niger, 2015: an analysis of national surveillance data

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Lancet Infect Dis
• Personal Author:
  Sidikou, Fati ; Zaneidou, Maman ; Alkassoum, Ibrahim ; Schwartz, Stephanie ; Issaka, Bassira ; Obama, Ricardo ; Lingani, Clement ; Tate, Ashley ; Ake, Flavien ; Sakande, Souleymane ; Ousmane, Sani ; Zanguina, Jibir ; Seidou, Issaka ; Nzeyimana, Innocent ; Mounkoro, Didier ; Abodji, Oubote ; Wang, Xin ; Taha, Muhamed-Kheir ; Moulia-Pelat, Jean Paul ; Pana, Assimawe ; Kadade, Goumbi ; Ronveaux, Olivier ; Novak, Ryan ; Oukem-Boyer, Odile Ouwe Missi ; Meyer, Sarah
• Description:
  Background
  
  To combat Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A epidemics in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV) has been progressively rolled out since 2010. We report the first meningitis epidemic in Niger since the nationwide introduction of MACV.
  
  Methods
  
  We compiled and analysed nationwide case-based meningitis surveillance data in Niger. Cases were confirmed by culture or direct real-time PCR, or both, of cerebrospinal fluid specimens, and whole-genome sequencing was used to characterise isolates. Information on vaccination campaigns was collected by the Niger Ministry of Health and WHO.
  
  Findings
  
  From Jan 1 to June 30, 2015, 9367 suspected meningitis cases and 549 deaths were reported in Niger. Among 4301 cerebrospinal fluid specimens tested, 1603 (37·3%) were positive for a bacterial pathogen, including 1147 (71·5%) that were positive for N meningitidis serogroup C (NmC). Whole-genome sequencing of 77 NmC isolates revealed the strain to be ST-10217. Although vaccination campaigns were limited in scope because of a global vaccine shortage, 1·4 million people were vaccinated from March to June, 2015.
  
  Interpretation
  
  This epidemic represents the largest global NmC outbreak so far and shows the continued threat of N meningitidis in sub-Saharan Africa. The risk of further regional expansion of this novel clone highlights the need for continued strengthening of case-based surveillance. The availability of an affordable, multivalent conjugate vaccine may be important in future epidemic response.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Epidemics Humans Mass Vaccination Meningitis, Meningococcal Meningococcal Vaccines Neisseria Meningitidis Neisseria Meningitidis, Serogroup C Population Surveillance Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Source:
  Lancet Infect Dis. 16(11):1288-1294.
• Pubmed ID:
  27567107
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5737706
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Niger
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  11
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:b6cd742b8e1f6ae815fa46e0d856bc5ed715949c2ae02f85c5a47c26d969b55d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/50593/cdc_50593_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 320.91 KB ]