Eliminating Meningococcal Epidemics From the African Meningitis Belt: The Case for Advanced Prevention and Control Using Next-Generation Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccines. (31st October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alderson, Mark R; LaForce, F Marc; Sobanjo-ter Meulen, Ajoke; Hwang, Angela; Preziosi, Marie-Pierre; Klugman, Keith P
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 220(2019)Supplement 4
• Page Start: S274
• Page End: S278
• Publication Date: 2019-10-31
• Subjects: meningitis belt -- multivalent meningococcal vaccines -- epidemic prevention; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz297
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: The introduction and rollout of a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine, MenAfriVac, in the African meningitis belt has eliminated serogroup A meningococcal infections for >300 million Africans. However, serogroup C, W, and X meningococci continue to circulate and have been responsible for focal epidemics in meningitis belt countries. Affordable multivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines are being developed to prevent these non-A epidemics. This article describes the current epidemiologic situation and status of vaccine development and highlights questions to be addressed to most efficiently use these new vaccines.