title: Control of meningococcal infection in the African meningitis belt by selective vaccination.
abstract: During an outbreak of group-A meningococcal meningitis, information was collected on the distribution of cases of this infection in an area in northern Nigeria. More than 1 case was recorded in all but 3 of 23 affected villages. Members of 9 villages, with a population of about 10 000, in which there had been 2 cases of meningococcal disease were vaccinated with 50 microgram of group-A and group-C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. There were subsequently 10 cases of meningococcal disease in these villages but only 2 of these patients had been vaccinated. In contrast there were 38 cases of meningococcal disease in 7 control villages with a similar population. Until we have more information on the duration of immunity after meningococcal vaccination, selective vaccination may be a more cost-effective means of controlling meningococcal disease in the African meningitis belt than routine mass immunisation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology; D009549:Nigeria; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial