Meningococcal meningitis in Mali: a long-term study of persistence and spread.
Int J Infect Dis
; 13(1): 103-9, 2009 Jan.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-18674942
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Meningococcal meningitis (MM) is still a huge threat in the African meningitis belt. To fight against epidemics, a strengthened health information system, based upon weekly collected data, was set up in Mali. We aimed to study the spatio-temporal dynamics of MM in this country between 1992 and 2003.METHODS:
We were first interested in the impact of population size on the disease persistence. We then used cross-correlation analysis to study the spread of the disease on three different spatial scales, i.e., inter-region (global) and inter-district and intra-district (local) levels.RESULTS:
We found no persistence of MM at district level in Mali during the whole of the study period. However, we found persistence on a nationwide scale after the 1997 big epidemics, as opposed to the 1992-1996 time periods. In terms of spread, two main regions seem to lead MM dynamics in Mali, even if on a local scale the 'cities-villages' diffusion pattern was not systematically observed.CONCLUSIONS:
This study improves knowledge on the spread and persistence of MM in Mali in recent years. It constitutes a first spatial study describing persistence and spread of MM in an African meningitis belt country. The next step should be the integration of vaccination and genetic variability data to clarify the route of spread of the disease in the human population.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Surtos de Doenças
/
Estudos Longitudinais
/
Meningite Meningocócica
/
Neisseria meningitidis
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Int J Infect Dis
Assunto da revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Ano de publicação:
2009
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
França