Meningitis during COVID -19 pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo: A call for concern

Abstract

Meningitis is a severe infection and a significant public health challenge. The meningitis outbreak resurfaced amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The outbreak further stressed the already overburdened health care systems with detecting, preventing etc., and treating the current coronavirus disease. The recent meningitis outbreak in the DRC has resulted in a high case fatality ratio of 50% - an incredibly worrying concern. Robust strategies are needed to curb the spread of the disease amid the COVID-19 pandemic, prevent other adverse health outcomes, and mitigate the compounding burden on the country's healthcare systems. Several measures such as vaccination campaigns, adherence to sanitation and hygiene, improved surveillance, and diagnostic capabilities could help prevent future epidemics. © 2021 The Author(s)