Meningitis situation in Niger continues to worsen since the beginning of 2017
A. Situation analysis
Niger is a country largely located in the African meningitis belt (the Lapeyssonnie belt). The country is recurrently confronted with meningitis epidemic outbreaks which vary in magnitude from one year to the next. Climate change and demographic factors affecting the world today has increased the frequency of meningitis outbreak, from 8 to 10 years in the past to 2-3 years in recent years. Since the beginning of 2017, the meningitis epidemic situation in Niger has continued to worsen. As a result, the number of affected cases is increasing exponentially. According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), from 1 January - 31 March 2017, at least at least 857 affected cases have been reported with 52 deaths (lethality rate: 6.1%). The report also indicates that as of 2 April 2017, at least 1,294 cases were reported in the country with 84 deaths (lethality rate: 6.5%). This statistic shows that within 2 days, at least 437 cases have been registered. The type of meningitis is Meningococcal C and the children aged 5 –14 years are by far the most, the most affected age group.
The Minister of Health, through a press conference held on 29 March 2017, officially declared the meningitis epidemic outbreak in three health centers in the district of the second neibourghhood of Niamey, including the districts of Foulankoira health Centre, Lazaret and Boukoki. Further, the Minister indicated that these the three health centres in the affected areas reported a total of 90 cases of meningitis including 4 deaths, from January 1 - March 28.
According to the Minister of Health, six other districts in the country are on alert, namely Niamey III and IV, Kollo, Tillabery region, Koni (Tahoua region), Djoundjou (Dosso region), and Tchibiri in the Maradi region. He added that other areas continue to record sporadic cases but have not reached the epidemic threshold.