title: Emergence of epidemic Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X meningitis in Togo and Burkina Faso.
abstract: Serogroup X meningococci (NmX) historically have caused sporadic and clustered meningitis cases in sub-Saharan Africa. To study recent NmX epidemiology, we analyzed data from population-based, sentinel and passive surveillance, and outbreak investigations of bacterial meningitis in Togo and Burkina Faso during 2006-2010. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens were analyzed by PCR. In Togo during 2006-2009, NmX accounted for 16% of the 702 confirmed bacterial meningitis cases. Kozah district experienced an NmX outbreak in March 2007 with an NmX seasonal cumulative incidence of 33/100,000. In Burkina Faso during 2007-2010, NmX accounted for 7% of the 778 confirmed bacterial meningitis cases, with an increase from 2009 to 2010 (4% to 35% of all confirmed cases, respectively). In 2010, NmX epidemics occurred in northern and central regions of Burkina Faso; the highest district cumulative incidence of NmX was estimated as 130/100,000 during March-April. Although limited to a few districts, we have documented NmX meningitis epidemics occurring with a seasonal incidence previously only reported in the meningitis belt for NmW135 and NmA, which argues for development of an NmX vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Agence de Médecine Préventive, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delrieu
authors.forename: Seydou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yaro
authors.forename: Tsidi A S
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Tamekloé
authors.forename: Berthe-Marie
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Njanpop-Lafourcade
authors.forename: Haoua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tall
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jaillard
authors.forename: Macaire S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ouedraogo
authors.forename: Kossi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Badziklou
authors.forename: Oumarou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanou
authors.forename: Aly
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drabo
authors.forename: Bradford D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Gessner
authors.forename: Jean L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kambou
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D002050:Burkina Faso / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D058872:Epidemics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012703:Serotyping; D014037:Togo / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral