West Africa hit by worst meningitis epidemic in years

More than 1900 people affected by meningitis have died since the beginning of this year in an area of sub-Saharan Africa known as the meningitis belt. In Nigeria, Niger and Chad alone, more than 56,000 cases have been recorded in the areas where Médecins Sans Frontières is assisting with the treatment of meningitis patients and teams are currently vaccinating a total population of more than seven million people. This is the biggest vaccination Médecins Sans Frontières has ever carried out.

Each day, Médecins Sans Frontières teams are travelling to urban and remote health centres in order to collect data, review and treat patients and to donate drugs to the health facilities. Together with health authorities, dozens of Médecins Sans Frontières teams are also carrying out vaccination campaigns to reduce the impact of the epidemic.

Meningococcal meningitis is a contagious and potentially fatal bacterial infection of the brain membrane. The bacteria are transmitted through respiratory droplets or throat secretions, with spread commonly occurring through close contact. On average, meningitis kills half of infected people if they are not treated, and one out of 10 who are treated.

The meningitis epidemic currently affecting the north of Nigeria is reported to be the country’s worst since 1996. Médecins Sans Frontières teams, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, have been working for four months in nine states in order to contain the spread of the epidemic.

Over 50,000 cases of meningitis have been recorded and over 1,500 people have died from the disease.

“Nigeria has been very badly affected by the epidemic this year,” said Ibrahim Younis, Médecins Sans Frontières' Emergency Coordinator in Nigeria. “The efforts of the teams however have meant that we are now seeing a reduction in cases in some areas. Still, some areas are seeing an increase. The effectiveness of the antibiotic that is being given to patients also means that relative to the number of cases, we are not seeing a large amount of deaths.”

At the same time, teams have already vaccinated nearly three million people. The plan over the coming weeks is to vaccinate approximately 1.6 million more, meaning that approximately 4.6 million people will be vaccinated during the course of the campaign.

Over the last 12 weeks, Médecins Sans Frontières and Ministry of Health teams have been working in nine states: Bauchi, Jigawa, Katsina, Gombe, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara. Activities have closed in Gombe and are soon to finish in Kaduna and Niger States.

In Niger the epidemic is spreading in some southern areas. Médecins Sans Frontières teams working with the Ministry of Health are treating patients suffering from meningitis and are vaccinating in the Dosso, Maradi and Zinder regions. In the capital city, Niamey, a Médecins Sans Frontières medical team is also assisting with the treatment of meningitis patients. Médecins Sans Frontières has sent additional staff to Niamey to start treating sick patients.

According to the Ministry of Health, a total of 6,465 meningitis cases and 288 deaths have been registered in these areas of the country so far.

As in Nigeria, Médecins Sans Frontières teams are also carrying out mass vaccination campaigns in the affected regions. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Médecins Sans Frontières is vaccinating 2.6 million people in the three southern regions of Dosso, Maradi, and Zinder.

Chad has also been hit by meningitis outbreaks. According to the Ministry of Health, 114 people have died out of a thousand meningitis cases reported in the whole country. Médecins Sans Frontières teams have started vaccinating in Dourbali, in the southern regions, and will then continue in Goundi and Pala. The total target population is estimated at over 120,000.

187 international staff and 7500 locally recruited staff have been involved in vaccination campaigns and treatment of meningitis patients in Nigeria, Niger and Chad.

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