MenAfriCar (the African Meningococcal Carriage Consortium) is a global research effort to study how meningococcal meningitis is spread in Africa, and to document the impact of a new meningitis vaccine on reducing transmission.

Nigeria Mali Ghana Niger Senegal Chad Ethiopia

The sub-Saharan African meningitis belt stretches from Ethiopia to Gambia and Senegal. Over the last 100 years, major meningitis epidemics have occurred within the meningitis belt every few years. Click on a country to learn more about meningococcal disease there and the MenAfriCar partners present.

Initiative to fight meningitis

Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, and results in septicaemia and/or meningitis. The infection spreads from person to person via respiratory droplets. Not all infections lead to disease, as people can carry the bacteria in their respiratory tracts without having symptoms.

Meningococcal disease is a major threat to health in parts of sub-Saharan Africa (the “African meningitis belt”). Here, major epidemics occur every few years. While previous attempts to prevent meningococcal disease with vaccination have had limited success, a new conjugate vaccine is in development.

MenAfriCar, a global research effort, has been launched to ensure that this new vaccine is used as effectively as possible to prevent meningococcal disease in Africa.

NEWS

Timkat Celebrations, Addis Ababa, January 2010. © Wylde L, LSHTM

MenAfriCar holds second annual consortium meeting

03 February 2010

The Armauer Hansen Research Institute hosted the successful meeting of 50 delegates from all partnering institutes in Addis Ababa, 20 to 22 January 2010.

Oropharyngeal sample collection at CERMES Niamey. © CERMES

Global experts unite to fight the scourge of meningitis in Africa

03 December 2009

PRESS RELEASE: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to lead a concerted effort to understand the spread of meningitis in Africa