Meningococcal infection is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (the meningococcus) which is spread from person to person via respiratory droplets.  Most infections with the meningococcus do not lead to any illness, the bacterium living harmlessly in the throat, a condition known as meningococcal carriage. However, occasionally, the bacterium invades to blood stream causing septicaemia and meningitis which can be fatal.

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 and these may be very large causing tens of thousands of cases. While previous attempts to prevent meningococcal disease in Africa through vaccination have had limited success, a new conjugate vaccine has been developed. This vaccine was first introduced in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in 2010 and is now being rolled out across the region.

MenAfriCar, a global research effort, has been established to determine how effective this new vaccine is  in preventing meningococcal disease and carriage in Africa.