By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice this week for the West African country of Benin due to a meningococcal disease outbreak.

Image/cytis via pixabay

An outbreak of meningococcal disease has been reported in Banikora District in northwest Benin, on the border with Burkina Faso.

As of mid-January, 77 cases and 13 deaths have been reported.

Most cases of meningococcal disease in this outbreak have been caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C. An oubreak of meningococcal disease due to serogroup C is not unexpected in Benin at this time of the year. There is a vaccine available to travelers that can help prevent infection against meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C.

Health officials are reporting that a smaller number of cases in this outbreak have been caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X. There is no vaccine that prevents infection against meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X.

CDC recommends all travelers to Benin aged 2 months or older should be vaccinated against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y prior to departure.

Two meningococcal vaccines are available in the United States that protect against infection from serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Children younger than 2 years of age are recommended to receive 2–4 doses of serogroup A, C, W, Y vaccine before traveling, depending on age. For adults and children 2 years of age and older, just a single dose is needed. Approximately 7–10 days are required after vaccination for the development of protective antibody levels.

Since 2005, most adolescents in the United States receive vaccination against serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Protection from the serogroup A, C, W, Y vaccine only lasts for a few years, however, so people who were vaccinated more than 3–5 years ago (depending on age) are recommended to receive an additional dose before traveling.

Vaccination against Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (also available in the United States) is not indicated for this outbreak. There is no vaccine for serogroup X.

Close contacts of a person with meningococcal disease should receive antibiotics to keep them from getting sick. Close contacts include people in the same household, roommates, or anyone with direct contact with a patient’s saliva (such as a boyfriend or girlfriend).

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