title: Pattern of the meningococcal meningitis outbreak in Northern Nigeria, 2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Despite the availability of vaccines, children are the people most often affected by epidemic meningococcal meningitis. The pattern of the epidemic meningococcal meningitis outbreak in Northern Nigeria in 2009 and the Neisseria meningitidis strains responsible for this epidemic are described here.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in 16 states, involving 48 local government areas (LGAs), 91 health facilities, and 96 communities. Data collection involved in-depth interviews with key informants from the federal to the community level, a review of records, and a solution-oriented national workshop with participants from all states of the Federation. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from some of the suspected cases at the start of the outbreak and were tested using the rapid Pastorex latex agglutination kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Kastina (11153, 20.4%), Jigawa (8643, 15.8%), Bauchi (8463, 15.5%), Kano (6811, 12.4%), and Gombe (6110, 11.2%) were the states with the highest prevalence of meningitis. The states of Nasarawa (11.0%), Adamawa (8.0%), and Borno (7.6%) recorded the highest percentage of deaths, while the Shongom (Gombe State 12.5%), Illela (Sokoto State 9.8%), and Ikara (Kaduna State 9.1%) LGAs recorded the most deaths amongst cases seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The testing of CSF samples during meningitis outbreaks is recommended in order to monitor the occurrence of the multiple meningitis serotypes during these outbreaks and to direct serotype-specific vaccination response activities.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria. Electronic address: bassey69@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Bassey Enya
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Bassey
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Rui Gama
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Alex Ntale
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Gasasira
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Braka
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Goitom
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weldegriebriel
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Williams
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Komakech
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Maleghemi Sylvester
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Toritseju
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Akinola Ayoola
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fatiregun
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria Country Office, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, PMB 2861, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okocha-Ejeko
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D058872:Epidemics; D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D065288:Serogroup; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines
keywords: Meningococcal meningitis; Northern Nigeria; Outbreak