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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
A. Sam-Abbenyi, M.K. Mulowe, E. Ekongo, and Linda Poteat. International Rescue Committee, IRC-Bukavu, DR Congo, 122 East 42nd Street, 12 Floor, New York, NY 10168-1289, 212-551-2731, marianaz@theirc.org
Objective: To contain an outbreak of meningococcal meningitis occurring during the rainy season in a complex emergency setting.
Background: An outbreak of meningococcal meningitis occurred in Katana, South Kivu, DR Congo, in rebel-controlled territory, putting 249,000 inhabitants at risk.
Methods: Birava and Luhihi, at the epicenter of this outbreak, reported an above epidemic threshold number of cases during the week of September 2-8, 2001. Neisseria meningitidis serogroup A was laboratory confirmed at the beginning of the epidemic, which reached its peak by September 23-29, 2001, with 92 cases and 9 deaths (CFR 9.8%). An emergency vaccination campaign was conducted for children <15 years on October 2 - 5, in the most affected areas, where 20,000 doses were administered. A second vaccination campaign was undertaken on November 10 - 15, 2001, with 92,000 doses administered for those <30 years.
Results: There were 711 cases and 67 deaths (CFR 9.4%) reported in south Katana of whom 75% were <25 years. The attack rates in Luhihi and Birava were respectively 687 and 1462/100,000. The epidemic did not spread beyond 30 km radius of the epicenter. A total of 70% of the target population was vaccinated. However, in villages with an attack rate ³ 350/100,000 the vaccination coverage rate was 50%.
Conclusion: In a complex emergency setting, mobilization of resources and vaccines to contain an outbreak of meningitis may require aggressive persuasion of stakeholders, especially during the rainy season. A buffer stock of meningococcal vaccines should be made available for at-risk countries.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Communicable Disease, International Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The health activities of the International Rescue Committee's DRC-Bukavu program will be discussed.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the International Rescue Committee (IRC). I conducted the health intervention that forms the basis of my presentation as part of my work for the IRC in Bukavu.