In Niger, a vaccination campaign was launched Thursday in Niamey to fight the meningitis epidemic. Since mid-March, more than 2,000 cases, including 123 deaths, have been recorded in the country, in the regions of Niamey, Agadez, Zinder and Dosso. Niger, located in the African meningitis belt, experiences epidemics every year, but their intensity varies.
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The World Health Organization estimates that the number of cases of meningitis is currently increasing rapidly in Niger with an increase of 50% compared to last year and a case fatality rate of 6%.
L’WHO recalls that meningitis, an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, is a medical emergency. Its main symptoms are fever, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, headache and vomiting.
To contain the spread of this disease, which can be fatal or cause after-effects, programs are already underway such as surveillance, patient care and even vaccination.
A campaign was launched on Thursday in the Niamey region, the epicenter of the epidemic, with an average of 52 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The goal of WHO and its partners is to vaccinate 900,000 people aged 1 to 19 years. This year, a new vaccine is being used, administered in a single dose. It is effective against the 5 main strains causing meningitis in Niger.