Deadly meningitis outbreak hits refugee camps in eastern Chad

Meningitis and measles are spreading in eastern Chad, where overcrowded camps hosting Sudanese refugees are worsening conditions. MSF says nearly 12% of children with meningitis have died, and health facilities are overwhelmed despite ongoing vaccination efforts.

Cases of deadly meningitis are increasing rapidly in eastern Chad, with health workers warning of a severe public health emergency in areas already under immense pressure from the arrival of hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing conflict in neighbouring Sudan. According to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the disease is proving particularly lethal among children, with nearly 12% of infected cases resulting in death.
MSF reported that between March and April alone, 212 children were admitted to its medical facilities in the border region suffering from meningitis, and 25 of them died. The organisation described this as a “shocking case fatality rate,” highlighting the severity of the outbreak and the limited capacity of local health systems to respond effectively. Medical staff say the situation is worsening as hospitals and treatment centres are reaching saturation point, with bed occupancy for meningitis patients now close to 100%.
Health workers on the ground have also raised alarm over the simultaneous spread of measles in the border town of Adre, one of the main entry points for Sudanese refugees into Chad. MSF says overcrowding in displacement camps has created ideal conditions for infectious diseases to spread quickly, especially among children living in poor sanitation and high-density shelters. Many patients arriving at clinics are already in critical condition, often suffering from complications such as severe pneumonia that require immediate hospitalisation.
Isabelle Kavira, MSF’s medical activity manager in Adre, described the daily influx of severely ill children as overwhelming for medical teams. She explained that the combination of meningitis and measles cases is stretching already limited resources, making it difficult to provide adequate care for all patients, including those with other medical conditions unrelated to the outbreaks.
The worsening health crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of one of the largest displacement emergencies in Africa. More than 1.3 million Sudanese refugees are currently living in Chad, according to United Nations estimates. Many have fled extreme violence, famine, and mass atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Large numbers of refugees have crossed into eastern Chad in recent months, further increasing pressure on already fragile health and humanitarian systems.
The rapid population influx has significantly strained local infrastructure, particularly in border areas like Adre, where makeshift camps have expanded beyond their capacity. Aid agencies warn that overcrowding, limited access to clean water, and inadequate healthcare services are accelerating the spread of contagious diseases, especially among children who are most vulnerable.
In response to the outbreaks, MSF and Chad’s Ministry of Health have launched large-scale emergency vaccination campaigns. According to MSF, more than 95,500 children have been vaccinated against measles, while approximately 337,800 people have received vaccines against meningitis in the most affected regions. These efforts are aimed at slowing transmission rates and preventing further loss of life.
However, humanitarian organisations caution that while vaccination campaigns are critical, they may not be sufficient on their own to control the outbreaks. Continued refugee arrivals, overcrowded living conditions, and limited healthcare infrastructure mean that the risk of further spread remains high. Aid groups are calling for increased international support, improved camp conditions, and expanded medical capacity to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.