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Meningitis in Niger Republic amidst COVID-19: current issues and novel recommendations
Malik Olatunde Oduoye1,2, Hauwa Bolanle Akanbi-Hakeem3, Muhammad Ali Muzammil4
1Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State.
Insights
COVID-19 has diverted attention from meningitis control in Niger Republic, straining resources and hindering immunization efforts. Urgent government action is needed to mitigate meningitis and prevent long-term complications.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a misallocation of resources and attention away from ongoing meningitis control programs in Niger Republic.
- Strained public health systems have resulted in reduced surveillance, delayed diagnoses, and hampered immunization campaigns for meningitis in Niger.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the impact of COVID-19 on meningitis control in Niger Republic.
- To identify gaps in meningitis surveillance and response amidst the pandemic.
- To provide recommendations for the Nigerien government to mitigate meningitis burden.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review of 45 articles published between 2013 and 2023.
- Searches were conducted in prominent scientific databases including PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Medline, and Embase.
Main Results:
- Niger Republic has faced recurrent meningitis epidemics since 2015, with over 20,789 cases and 1,369 deaths (6.6% CFR).
- Recent outbreaks include 231 cases (Nov 2021-Jan 2022) and 559 cases with 18 deaths (Nov 2022-Jan 2023) in the Zinder region.
- Meningitis continues to pose a significant public health threat in Niger, with potential for severe long-term complications.
Conclusions:
- Meningitis remains a critical public health issue in Niger Republic, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on health resources.
- Novel and adequate measures are essential for the Niger Government to implement to reduce the disease burden.
- Addressing meningitis requires sustained focus and resource allocation, even during global health crises.
Abstract:
Amidst coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been a misplaced priority on meningitis in the Niger Republic, thus refocusing resources and attention away from the continuing meningitis campaign in the Niger Republic. The over-strained state of public health resources and staff has also led to decreased surveillance, postponed diagnoses, and constrained immunization efforts in Niger Republic. This review aims to bridge the gaps regarding meningitis amid COVID-19 in Niger Republic and offer recommendations to government to mitigate meningitis in the country, with the hope of finding a permanent solution to this debilitating disease. The authors reviewed 45 past and present pieces of literature on meningitis and COVID-19 from 2013 to 2023 in well-renowned scientific databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Medline, and Embase. Since 2015, Niger Republic has experienced multiple meningitis epidemics that have resulted in 20, 789 cases and 1, 369 deaths [a case fatality rate (CFR) of 6.6%]. A total of 231 cases of meningitis were reported from 1 November 2021 to 31 January 2022. And recently, 559 cases of meningitis (of which 111 are laboratory confirmed), including 18 deaths (overall CFR 3.2%), occurred in the Zinder region, southeast of Niger Republic, from 1 November 2022 to 27 January 2023. Meningitis remains a public health concern in the world, especially in Niger Republic, which could lead to serious long-term complications. Therefore, adequate and novel measures and therapeutic actions should be implemented by the Niger Government to lessen the burden of the disease in the country.
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