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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
immunology and microbiology
Timely detection of bacterial meningitis epidemics at district level: A study in three countries of the African Meningitis Belt
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Volume 107, No. 1, Article trs010, Year 2013
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Description
Background: Bacterial meningitis is a major public health problem in the African 'Meningitis Belt', where recurrent unpredictable epidemics occur. Despite the introduction in 2010 of the conjugate A vaccine, the reactive strategy remains important for responding to epidemics caused by other bacteria and in areas not yet vaccinated. Review of weekly numbers of suspected cases in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso identified spatial disparities in the annual patterns of meningitis, which suggested a more local way of defining epidemics and initiating a timely vaccination campaign. Method: We defined an epidemic district-year as an excess of cases compared to the incidence previously experienced in the given district. Groups of similar districts in terms of seasonal patterns were identified by cluster analysis. We investigated a cluster-specific criterion of early epidemic onset to anticipate epidemic district- years. Results: These were encouraging, as epidemic district-years were fairly efficiently captured, with an average time gained of 2.5 weeks over the current strategy. Conclusion: This early-onset criterion could help ensure timely implementation of vaccination campaigns without the need to modify the implemented surveillance system. The next step is to extend this study to other countries of the Meningitis Belt, and to explain the differences in seasonal patterns in the different clusters. © Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2012. All rights reserved.
Authors & Co-Authors
Agier, Lydiane
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
United Kingdom, Lancaster
Centre for Health Informatics, Computing, and Statistics
Broutin, Hélène
United States, Bethesda
National Institutes of Health Nih
France, Montpellier
Ird Centre de Montpellier
Bertherat, Eric Gerard Georges
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Djingarey, Mamoudou Harouna
Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
World Health Organization Ouagadougou
Lingani, Clément
Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou
World Health Organization Ouagadougou
Perea, William A.
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Hugonnet, Stèphane Alexandre Louis
Switzerland, Geneva
Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Statistics
Citations: 17
Authors: 7
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1093/trstmh/trs010
ISSN:
00359203
e-ISSN:
18783503
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cohort Study
Study Locations
Burkina Faso
Mali
Niger