Meningitis vaccine cuts cases by 94% in Chad

Absolutely wonderful news.

MenAfriVac sucess:

[link to www.thelancet.com]
"Roughly 1·8 million individuals aged 1—29 years received one dose of PsA—TT during a vaccination campaign in three regions of Chad ,,,"
"The incidence of meningitis during the 2012 meningitis season in these three regions was 2.48 per 100 000 (57 cases in the 2.3 million population), whereas in regions without mass vaccination, incidence was 43.8 per 100 000 (3809 cases per 8.7 million population), a 94% difference in crude incidence (p<0.0001), and an incidence rate ratio of 0.096 (95% CI 0·046—0·198"
"...no case of serogroup A meningococcal meningitis was reported in the three vaccinated regions."
"Interpretation - PSA—TT was highly effective at prevention of serogroup A invasive meningococcal disease and carriage in Chad."


[link to www.scidev.net]
"A meningitis vaccine that has recently been rolled out in several African countries has reduced the incidence of the disease by 94 per cent in Chad after just a single dose per person, in what scientists say is a startling success for the new vaccine, called MenAfriVac."
""This is one of the most dramatic outcomes from a public health intervention that I have seen," said lead author Brian Greenwood ..."

""There are now real prospects that the devastating effects of this infection in Africa can be prevented," said Greenwood, a professor of clinical tropical medicine at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom, ..."

"Group A meningococcus accounts for an estimated 80 to 85 per cent of all cases across the belt, ... If untreated, the disease — which mainly affects infants, children and young adults — kills half of those infected."

"... the incidence of meningitis of any type in the three vaccinated regions was 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared with 43.6 per 100,000 people in the unvaccinated areas.

And there were no meningitis A cases in the vaccinated regions, compared with 59 in the unvaccinated regions."


As I said, this is a wonderful outcome. Perhaps now the vicious and lethal cycle of meningitis outbreaks across rhe sub-sahara can be finally stopped.
Thousands upon thousands of little children won't die from this nasty disease.
2.48 per 100 000 (vaccinated) versus 43.8 per 100 000 (unvaccinated).
The numbers don't lie, the vaccine is very effective. I'd say that is reason to celebrate.
(And notice that this is one of those mythical times where vaccinated -vs- unvaccinated are compared... which certain proponents of witch-doctory say never happens even though it happens all the time.)

Millions of African mothers will be able to set aside their fears of the periodic meningitis outbreaks which kill their children.
Congratulations WHO, PATH, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and Médecins Sans Frontères.
Job well done.


R.