Niger is in the centre of the meningitis belt and epidemics are frequent. Major epidemics occurred in 1996 and 1997. In more recent years (2003 – 2008) several thousand cases have been reported each year with over 8,000 cases reported in 2003. Between January and August 2009, 13,387 cases of meningococcal disease were reported from 25 districts, the majority being caused by meningococci belonging to serogroup A. However, in 2006 Niger experienced an epidemic caused by meningococci belonging to serogroup X, an unusual cause of epidemic disease.

MenAfriCar’s collaborating centre in Niger is the Centre de Recherche Médicale et Sanitaire (CERMES), Niamey, created in 1980 specifically for meningitis research.