@article{fdi:010069329,
  title = {{T}owards understanding the epidemiology of {N}eisseria meningitidis in the {A}frican meningitis belt : a multi-disciplinary overview},
  author = {{A}gier, {L}. and {M}artiny, {N}. and {T}hiongane, {O}umy and {M}ueller, {J}. {E}. and {P}aireau, {J}. and {W}atkins, {E}. {R}. and {I}rving, {T}. {J}. and {K}outangni, {T}. and {B}routin, {H}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjectives: {N}eisseria meningitidis is the major cause of seasonal meningitis epidemics in the {A}frican meningitis belt. {I}n the changing context of a reduction in incidence of serogroup {A} and an increase in incidence of serogroups {W} and {C} and of {S}treptococcus pneumoniae, a better understanding of the determinants driving the disease transmission dynamics remains crucial to improving bacterial meningitis control. {M}ethods: {T}he literature was searched to provide a multi-disciplinary overview of the determinants of meningitis transmission dynamics in the {A}frican meningitis belt. {R}esults: {S}easonal hyperendemicity is likely predominantly caused by increased invasion rates, sporadic localized epidemics by increased transmission rates, and larger pluri-annual epidemic waves by changing population immunity. {C}arriage likely involves competition for colonization and cross-immunity. {T}he duration of immunity likely depends on the acquisition type. {M}ajor risk factors include dust and low humidity, and presumably human contact rates and co-infections; social studies highlighted environmental and dietary factors, with supernatural explanations. {C}onclusions: {E}fforts should focus on implementing multi-country, longitudinal seroprevalence and epidemiological studies, validating immune markers of protection, and improving surveillance, including more systematic molecular characterizations of the bacteria. {I}ntegrating climate and social factors into disease control strategies represents a high priority for optimizing the public health response and anticipating the geographic evolution of the {A}frican meningitis belt.},
  keywords = {{B}acterial meningitis ; {D}isease control ; {R}esearch priorities ; {A}frican belt ; {AFRIQUE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nternational {J}ournal of {I}nfectious {D}iseases},
  volume = {54},
  numero = {},
  pages = {103--112},
  ISSN = {1201-9712},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ijid.2016.10.032},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010069329},
}