Risk mapping and early warning systems for the control of meningitis in Africa

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 25; pp. A12 - A17
• Main Authors: Cuevas, Luis E, Jeanne, Isabelle, Molesworth, Anna, Bell, Michael, Savory, Emily C, Connor, Stephen J, Thomson, Madeleine C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 03-09-2007; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Africa; Africa - epidemiology; Allergy and Immunology; Climate; Cloning; Disease Outbreaks; Environment; Environmental changes; Environmental information; Epidemics; Geographic information system (GIS); Geography; Humans; Mathematical models; Meningitis; Meningitis, Meningococcal - epidemiology; Meningococcal meningitis; Neisseria meningitidis; Population; Prediction models; Remote sensing; Risk Factors; Risk map; Vaccines; Warning systems; Africa; Benin; Cameroon; Ghana; Mali; Sub-Saharan Africa; Sudan; Epidemics; Climate; Africa; Environment; Geographic information system (GIS); Risk map; Remote sensing; Meningococcal meningitis
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2007.04.034

Abstract Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis in Africa have plagued the continent for over a century. These epidemics have a strong association with the environment and efforts are being made to develop models to predict both their location and their incidence. This review describes the predictive models based on climate/environmental information currently available, describes work in progress, and presents evidence that the distribution of the epidemics is changing in a pattern that is compatible with changes in the environment. Discussion of priorities for research in the context of the new conjugate vaccines in Africa is also provided.