Africa’s “meningitis belt,” stretching from Senegal to Ethiopia, has for the first time gained a real chance to break free from a deadly threat. The five-component Men5CV vaccine promises to protect millions against five forms of bacterial meningitis at once, including rare types that were previously unavailable for prevention.
The result of 13 years of work, Men5CV covers serogroups A, C, Y, W and X. It is a major step forward after the success of MenAfriVac, which has since 2010 successfully targeted only one type — serogroup A. Men5CV is effective even in children, remains stable at high temperatures, does not require refrigerators, and costs only $3 — all of which is especially important for poorer regions.
Bacterial meningitis remains one of the region’s most dangerous infections: the disease develops rapidly, can kill within hours, and often leaves survivors with severe consequences — from deafness to impaired brain function. It poses a particular threat in dry climates, dusty winds, and unstable medical systems.
Until now, meningitis outbreaks in this part of Africa have claimed tens of thousands of lives. The new vaccine could become a key tool in achieving the WHO goal of eliminating meningitis as an epidemic threat by 2030.
