Meningococcal Meningitis in Northern Ghana: Epidemiology and Control Measures

D. W. Belcher Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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A. C. Sherriff Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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K. P. Nimo Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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G. L. N. Chew Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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A. Voros Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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W. D. Richardson Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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H. A. Feldman Department of Community Health, Ghana Medical School, School of Medicine, University of California, Ministry of Health, Ghana, Bawku Presbyterian Hospital, Nalgerigu Baptist Medical Center, Department of Preventive Medicine, Upstate Medical Center, State University of New York, Accra, Ghana

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.1977.26.748
Volume/Issue:
Volume 26: Issue 4
Page(s):
748–755
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Hospitalized meningococcal meningitis patients in northeastern Ghana during 1972–1973 were studied to provide baseline information about case clustering and age-specific attack rates to guide meningitis control programs. In 1973, group A meningococci were prevalent and 7% of isolates were sulfadiazine-resistant. In contrast to the age distribution of meningococcal meningitis in North and South America, peak attack rates occurred in 10- to 14-year-old Ghanaians. A mass immunization campaign using group A polysaccharide vaccine in heavily populated areas of the Bawku and Nalgerigu districts is recommended.

Author Notes

Present address: Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98198.

Copyright:
Copyright © 1977 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 1977
Accepted:
04 Dec 1976
|
Published Online:
Jul 1977
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
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