Epidemiology of Bacterial Meningitis in Northern Ghana

• Research unit: TPH
• Project number: 6.07

Key words (English)

Neisseria, meningitis, Ghana, Africa, meningococcus, epidemiology

Short description (English)

Bacterial meningitis threatens the life and livelihood of millions of Africans every year. Menigococcal meningitis occurs in epidemics every 8-12 years (Moore, 1992). Though the risk factors (Hodgson et al, 2001a) and factors that facilitate epidemics (Moore, 1992) are known, it is still difficult to predict epidemics of meningococcal meningitis. It is also impossible for health authorities to predict where the disease will strike next. Control measures are therefore initiated late. Following the 1996/97 major meningococcal meningitis epidemic, the Swiss Tropical Institute and the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) developed a collaborative research project to address research questions relevant to the epidemiology of meningitis in Northern Ghana. This proposal is built on the above research partnership.

The study is following the clinical presentation, course and outcome of meningitis cases reporting to the War Memorial Hospital, Navrongo, Ghana, and monitoring the The molecular distribution of causative agents of bacterial meningitis in Northern Ghana. The study is also developing a simple meteorological and epidemiological model for the prediction of epidemics of meningococcal meningitis.

Project aims (English)

1. Determine the molecular distribution of causative agents of bacterial meningitis in Northern Ghana

2. To ensure early preparation for and initiation of preventive measures, this study proposes to use meteorological and epidemiological data to design a simple model for the prediction of epidemics of meningococcal meningitis.

3. This proposal seeks to carry out surveillance of meningitis cases in Northern Ghana by collecting CSF samples of meningitis cases in this part of the Ghana

Abstract (English)

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Publications / Results (English)

Forgor AA, Leimkugel, J, Hodgson A, Bugri A, Dangy J-P, Gagneux S, Smith T, Pluschke G. Emergence of W135 meningococcal meningitis in Ghana. TM & IH; 10, 1-6, 2005.

Forgor AA, Hodgson A, Leimkugel, J, Adjuik M, Pflüger V, Bangre O, Dangy J-P, Pluschke G. Smith T. Survival and Sequelae of Pneumococcal Meningitis in Northern Ghana TM & IH; 2007 submitted.