Conference abstract

Descriptive epidemiology of cerebrospinal meningitis Type C in Bodinga LGA, Sokoto State, Nigeria, April 2017

Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2018:8(10).21 Mar 2018.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2018.8.10.684
Archived on: 21 Mar 2018
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Keywords: Cerebrospinal meningitis, outbreak, Sokoto, epidemiology
Opening ceremony

Descriptive epidemiology of cerebrospinal meningitis Type C in Bodinga LGA, Sokoto State, Nigeria, April 2017

Garba Mustapha1,&, Hassan Assad1, Yashe Usman2, Ramatu Abdu-Aguye1, Abdulmumini Kassim1, Galadima Abbas3, Bello Idris3, Ayanleke Halimatu4, Muhammad Balogun1

1Nigerian Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Abuja, Nigeria, 2Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Abuja, Nigeria, 3Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Sokoto, Nigeria, 4African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Nigeria

&Corresponding author
Garba Mustapha, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Asokoro, Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: outbreaks of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) have recurred in a cyclical fashion for the past 100 years in Africa. Surveillance data showed evidence of serogroup replacement of Neisseria meningitides A by serogroup C with series of outbreaks in 2013 through 2017. In Nigeria, outbreaks of CSM occur annually and 13,420 cases with 1,069 deaths were reported by the end of week 18, 2017. We investigated to describe CSM type C epidemic in Bodinga LGA.

Methods: we defined a suspected case as any person, resident in Bodinga LGA with fever, headache and neck stiffness from 26 March to 7 May. A confirmed case was a suspected case who was tested positive for Neisseria meningitides type C (NmC). We conducted active case search and reviewed medical records. Seventeen CSF specimens were collected and analyzed. Attack rates and case fatality rates were calculated.

Results: from surveillance data and active case search 356 suspected cases were recorded between 15 February and 7 May with seven deaths (CFR 2.0%). The index case was a 13 year old boy from Bangi Dabagi ward of Bodinga LGA and the epicurve depicts person to person transmission. One hundred and eighty six (52.2%) were males, mean age of cases was 14.9 years (SD 9.8). The 10-14 year age group were 112 (31.5%). All cases were unvaccinated, the attack rate increase by week with cumulative of 146.6/100,000 population. Five (29.4%) of 17 specimens tested positive to NmC.

Conclusion: there was an outbreak of CSM type C in Bodinga LGA and it affected all sexes and age group 10-14 years has highest cumulative attack rate of 401.5/100,000 population while age group 0-4 years has least cumulative attack rate of 69.1/100,000 population. We conducted community sensitization, supported case management and recommended reactive vaccination with NmC vaccine.