Flashtalk 25th International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference 2026

Bacterial Meningitis Epidemiology in Burkina Faso and Niger - High-Risk Countries in the Meningitis Belt of Sub-Saharan Africa, 2015-2023 (#086)

Veronica A Pinell-McNamara 1 , Hamed S Ouédraogo 2 , Lassane Kafando 2 , Ousmane Sani 3 , Aichatou A Issoufou 4 , Elhadji I Tassiou 4 , Mahamoudou Sanou 5 , Felix Tarbangdo 6 , ANDRE ARSENE BITA FOUDA 7 , Katya Fernandez 8 , Joann Kekeisen-Chen 1 , Natacha Cureau 1 , Adakal Aboubacar 9 , Frédérick Acho 6 , Flavien Aké 6 , Lana Childs 1 , Jennifer L Farrar 1 , C.A.Patrick Gbaguidi 4 , Frédéric Kambou 2 , Reggis Katsande 7 , Miwako Kobayashi 1 , Anderson Latt 10 , Clement Lingani 11 , Henju Marjuki 1 , Lesley McGee 1 , John Neatherlin 1 , Ryan T Novak 1 , Mahamoudou Ouattara 1 , Lorenzo Pezzoli 8 , Heidi M Soeters 8 , Issa Tonde 5 , Mamadou Tamboura 5 , Zaneidou Mamane 4 , Issaka Yameogo 12 , Lucy A McNamara 1
  1. CDC, Atlanta, GA, United States
  2. Direction de la Promotion de la Santé, Ministère de la Santé du Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  3. Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, CERMES, Niamey, Niger
  4. Direction de la Surveillance et de la Riposte aux Epidémies, Ministère de la Santé Publique de la Population et des Affaires Sociales du Niger, Niamey, Niger
  5. Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle , Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  6. Davycas International, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
  7. Regional Office for Africa (AFRO), World Health Organization , Brazzaville, Republic of Congo
  8. World Health Organization , Geneva, Switzerland
  9. Davycas International, Niger, Niamey, Niger
  10. AFRO Emergency preparedness and response cluster, World Health Organization, Dakar, Senegal
  11. AFRO Inter-country Support team, World Health Organization , Dakar, Senegal
  12. Ministère de la Santé du Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Background. Burkina Faso and Niger experience hyperendemic meningitis. We describe their bacterial meningitis epidemiology during 2015–2023, after meningococcal A and prior to meningococcal ACWYX (Men5CV) conjugate vaccine introductions.

Methods. Case-based surveillance included demographics, clinical information, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from suspected meningitis cases. CSF specimens were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) and culture to detect Neisseria meningitidis (Nm), Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), or Haemophilus influenzae (Hi). Nm serogroup (A, C, W, Y, X, B, or indeterminate) was established by rt-PCR or slide agglutination. Annual incidences were calculated using country census estimates as population denominators.

Results. During 2015–2023, 20 538 suspected cases were reported in Burkina Faso and 18 047 in Niger. In Burkina Faso, 3722 of 16 350 CSF specimens tested were positive; 2357 (64%) were Sp and 512 (14%) Nm serogroup W; Hi and Nm serogroups A, C, X, and indeterminate were also detected (<1%–9% each). In Niger, 4372 of 11 076 CSF specimens tested were positive; 3003 (69%) were Nm serogroup C and 703 (16%) were Sp; Hi and Nm serogroups B, W, X, and indeterminate were also detected (<1%–8% each). Average annual incidences per 100 000 population of Nm, Sp, and Hi were 0.7, 1.6, and 0.2 for Burkina Faso and 4.1, 0.8, and 0.2 for Niger. Children aged 5–9 years in Burkina Faso and 10–14 years in Niger had the highest Nm incidences.

Conclusions. Nm, Sp, and Hi continue to cause disease in Burkina Faso and Niger. Men5CV could help address the burden of serogroup C, W, and X meningococcal disease.

 

This manuscript has been published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, jiag116, https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiag116, but not presented at a conference.