Use of Climate Information Services as a Decision-Making Tool for Monitoring Meningitis Outbreaks in Africa
1
Climate and health, African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development, Niamey, Niger
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Epidemic meningitis remains a major public health challenge in the African “meningitis belt,” stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia and affecting over 500 million people. Outbreaks are strongly associated with dry-season environmental conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity, and increased dust concentrations. To address this challenge, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) has developed a co-production approach that integrates real-time sub-seasonal and seasonal climate forecasts into a Meningitis Early Warning System (MEWS). Climate forecast products are used to co-design tailored information that supports public health decision-making. This work presents the MEWS co-production framework and highlights the added value of climate information services in public health response.
METHODS:
MEWS integrates sub-seasonal forecasts of temperature, humidity, and dust to identify areas at risk of meningitis outbreaks. A coordination platform brings together ACMAD team and health stakeholders to co-design meningitis vigilance maps. During the epidemic season, weekly forecasts and vigilance maps are produced and discussed during biweekly coordination meetings with WHO-AFRO team to guide response actions. The platform also serves as a feedback mechanism, enabling continuous validation of forecasts to improve system accuracy and operational relevance.
RESULTS:
The co-production framework resulted in operational vigilance maps and sustained user engagement, facilitating effective uptake of forecasts by health-sector decision-makers. Since implementation, MEWS maps have been issued twice weekly, enabling timely alerts and preparedness actions. In 2021, it supported the rapid containment of epidemic clusters within the meningitis belt. The initiative strengthened cross-sector collaboration, improved knowledge sharing, and enhanced the usability of climate information.
CONCLUSIONS:
Climate-informed early warning systems represent a cost-effective adaptation measure for epidemic control. Institutionalizing MEWS, ensuring policy uptake, and sustaining climate–health partnerships are essential to achieving the WHO “Defeating Meningitis by 2030” goals.
Epidemic meningitis remains a major public health challenge in the African “meningitis belt,” stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia and affecting over 500 million people. Outbreaks are strongly associated with dry-season environmental conditions, including high temperatures, low humidity, and increased dust concentrations. To address this challenge, the African Centre of Meteorological Applications for Development (ACMAD) has developed a co-production approach that integrates real-time sub-seasonal and seasonal climate forecasts into a Meningitis Early Warning System (MEWS). Climate forecast products are used to co-design tailored information that supports public health decision-making. This work presents the MEWS co-production framework and highlights the added value of climate information services in public health response.
METHODS:
MEWS integrates sub-seasonal forecasts of temperature, humidity, and dust to identify areas at risk of meningitis outbreaks. A coordination platform brings together ACMAD team and health stakeholders to co-design meningitis vigilance maps. During the epidemic season, weekly forecasts and vigilance maps are produced and discussed during biweekly coordination meetings with WHO-AFRO team to guide response actions. The platform also serves as a feedback mechanism, enabling continuous validation of forecasts to improve system accuracy and operational relevance.
RESULTS:
The co-production framework resulted in operational vigilance maps and sustained user engagement, facilitating effective uptake of forecasts by health-sector decision-makers. Since implementation, MEWS maps have been issued twice weekly, enabling timely alerts and preparedness actions. In 2021, it supported the rapid containment of epidemic clusters within the meningitis belt. The initiative strengthened cross-sector collaboration, improved knowledge sharing, and enhanced the usability of climate information.
CONCLUSIONS:
Climate-informed early warning systems represent a cost-effective adaptation measure for epidemic control. Institutionalizing MEWS, ensuring policy uptake, and sustaining climate–health partnerships are essential to achieving the WHO “Defeating Meningitis by 2030” goals.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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