Open AccessRapid response to meningococcal disease cluster in Foya district, Lofa County, Liberia January to February 2018
Author(s) -
Julius Monday Rude,
Lavele Kortimai,
Mosoka Fallah,
April Baller,
Nuha Mouhamoud,
Victoria Katawera,
Thomas Nagbe,
Alpha Tamba,
Williams Desmound,
Richard Mulbah,
Pierre Formenty,
Emmanuel Musa Onuche,
Joseph Okeibunor Chukwudi,
Ambrose Talisuna,
Ali Ahmed Yahaya,
Soatiana Rajatonirina,
Tolbert Nyenswah,
Bernice Dahn,
Alex Gasasira,
Ibrahima Socé Fall
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2019.33.2.17095
Subject(s) - medicine , cluster (spacecraft) , meningococcal disease , neisseria meningitidis , biology , bacteria , computer science , genetics , programming language
Early detection of disease outbreaks is paramount to averting associated morbidity and mortality. In January 2018, nine cases including four deaths associated with meningococcal disease were reported in three communities of Foya district, Lofa County, Liberia. Due to the porous borders between Lofa County and communities in neighboring Sierra Leone and Guinea, the possibility of epidemic spread of meningococcal disease could not be underestimated. Methods The county incidence management system (IMS) was activated that coordinated the response activities. Daily meetings were conducted to review response activities progress and challenges. The district rapid response team (DRRT) was the frontline responders. The case based investigation form; case line list and contacts list were used for data collection. A data base was established and analysed daily for action. Tablets Ciprofloxacin were given for chemoprophylaxis. Results Sixty-seven percent (67%) of the cases were males and also 67% of the affected age range was 3 to 14 years and attending primary school. The attack rate was 7/1,000 population and case fatality rate was 44.4 % with majority of the deaths occurring within 24-48 hours of symptoms onset. Three of the cases tested positive for Neisseria Meningitidis sero-type W while six cases were Epi-linked. None of the cases had recent meningococcal vaccination and no health-worker infections were registered. Conclusion This cluster of cases of meningococcal disease during the meningitis season in a country that is not traditionally part of the meningitis belt emphasized the need for strengthening surveillance, preparedness and response capacity to meningitis.