450 million people across Africa are at risk from meningococcal A disease
Widespread epidemics have been documented for over 100 years in sub-Saharan Africa, in what has become known as the meningitis belt, stretching from Senegal in the west, to Ethiopia in the east. During the epidemic of 1996-1997, more than 250 000 cases and 25 000 deaths were reported. As many as 450 million people are at risk from the disease across Africa.