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Background In 2020, the new pathogen SARS‐CoV‐2 spread fast, causing a pandemic. Health care workers on the frontline were of course highly exposed. This study aims to analyze the risk factors of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in HCWs who have been in contact with positive patients in Niger. Methods A prospective cohort was conducted among HCWs from March 2020 to June 2020 in health facilities in Niamey. A questionnaire was administered at inclusion; RT‐PCR testing was performed if clinical signs were present. Serological testing was performed at baseline, Days 15 and 30. Univariate analysis and Cox regression were used. Results Regarding inclusion criteria, 129 health care workers were included. The sex ratio (male/female) was 0.82. The participants were mainly physicians (45.7%) and nurses (34.1%). At inclusion, the prevalence of COVID‐19 was 34.9%. Only seronegative (n = 84) were followed up; the attack incidence rate for the first month was 440 per 1000 person*month. Regarding the Cox model, the use of alcohol‐based hand washing was a protective factor (RR = 0.28, p = 0.01). Furthermore, females were more at risk than males (RR = 2, p‐value = 0.049). Conclusions HCWs in Niger were faced with high infection risk; this should lead decision‐makers to (i) enhance training on preventive measures and (ii) boost access to personal protective equipment in emergency and infectious disease wards.

In 2010, Niger and other meningitis belt countries introduced a meningococcal serogroup A conjugate vaccine (MACV). We describe the epidemiology of bacterial meningitis in Niger from 2010 to 2018. Suspected and confirmed meningitis cases from January 1, 2010 to July 15, 2018 were obtained from national aggregate and laboratory surveillance. Cerebrospinal fluid specimens were analyzed by culture and/or polymerase chain reaction. Annual incidence was calculated as cases per 100 000 population. Selected isolates obtained during 2016-2017 were characterized by whole-genome sequencing. Of the 21 142 suspected cases of meningitis, 5590 were confirmed: Neisseria meningitidis ([Nm] 85%), Streptococcus pneumoniae ([Sp] 13%), and Haemophilus influenzae ([Hi] 2%). No NmA cases occurred after 2011. Annual incidence per 100 000 population was more dynamic for Nm (0.06-7.71) than for Sp (0.18-0.70) and Hi (0.01-0.23). The predominant Nm serogroups varied over time (NmW in 2010-2011, NmC in 2015-2018, and both NmC and NmX in 2017-2018). Meningococcal meningitis incidence was highest in the regions of Niamey, Tillabery, Dosso, Tahoua, and Maradi. The NmW isolates were clonal complex (CC)11, NmX were CC181, and NmC were CC10217. After MACV introduction, we observed an absence of NmA, the emergence and continuing burden of NmC, and an increase in NmX. Niger's dynamic Nm serogroup distribution highlights the need for strong surveillance programs to inform vaccine policy.