Among 139 patients with suspected bacterial meningitis in Ethiopia, 2012-2013, meningococci (19.4%) and pneumococci (12.9%) were the major disease-causing organisms. Meningococcal serogroups detected were A (n = 11), W (n = 7), C (n = 1), and X (n = 1). Affordable, multivalent meningitis vaccines for the African meningitis belt are urgently needed.
Keywords: Ethiopia; Neisseria meningitidis; Streptococcus pneumoniae; bacteria; bacterial meningitis; meningococcal serogroups; meningococci; pneumococci; real-time PCR.