title: Serogroup-Specific Characteristics of Localized Meningococcal Meningitis Epidemics in Niger 2002-2012 and 2015: Analysis of Health Center Level Surveillance Data.
abstract: To compare dynamics of localized meningitis epidemics (LE) by meningococcal (Nm) serogroup, we analyzed a surveillance database of suspected and laboratory-confirmed Nm cases from 373 health areas (HA) of three regions in Niger during 2002-2012 and one region concerned by NmC epidemics during 2015. We defined LE as HA weekly incidence rates of ≥20 suspected cases per 100,000 during ≥2 weeks and assigned the predominant serogroup based on polymerase chain reaction testing of cerebrospinal fluid. Among the 175 LE, median peak weekly incidence rate in LE due to NmA, W, X and C were 54, 39, 109 and 46 per 100,000, respectively. These differences impacted ability of the epidemic to be detected at the district level. While this analysis is limited by the small number of LE due to NmX (N = 4) and NmW (N = 5), further research should explore whether strategies for prevention and response to meningitis epidemics need to be adapted according to predominant meningococcal serogroups.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, Niger.|Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France.|Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Cellule Pasteur UPMC, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Halima Boubacar
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Maïnassara
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France.|Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Cellule Pasteur UPMC, Paris, France.|Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America.
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Paireau
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, Niger.
authors.forename: Issa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Idi
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, Niger.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Jusot
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, Niger.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Moulia Pelat
authors.affiliation: Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire, Niamey, Niger.
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France.|Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, Chaire Santé et Développement, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontanet
authors.affiliation: Institut Pasteur, Emerging Diseases Epidemiology Unit, Paris, France.|EHESP French School of Public Health, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Mueller