The Mali Ministry of Health reported 11 new cases (2 confirmed; 9 suspected) and no new deaths of bacterial meningitis from six regions since November 21. This is a 5.5% increase in the number of cases in the last four weeks.

Cumulatively, 723 cases (122 confirmed; 601 suspected) and no deaths of bacterial meningitis have been reported from ail eleven regions in Mali this year.

The bacteria isolated from the confirmed cases include; Streptococcus pneumoniae (55), Neisseria meningitidis W135 (24), Haemophilus influenzae non-­b (25), Haemophilus influenzae b (9) and Haemophilus influenzae untyped (9). ln 2023, the national meningitis vaccination coverage among children <5 years in Mali was 94%.

The MoH continues to conduct enhanced surveillance, case management, cerebro-spinal fluid sample collection, as well as risk communication and community engagement activities in the affected districts.

Africa-wide, since the beginning of 2025, a total of 1,292 cases (183 confirmed; 1,109 suspected) and 27 deaths (CFR: 2.09%) of bacterial meningitis have been reported from four African Union Member States: Ghana (439 cases; 20 deaths), Mali (723; 0), Togo (47; 7) and Zambia (83; 0).

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