Analyzing the Relationship between Suspected Meningitis Cases and the Simulated WRF PM10 Concentrations in West Africa

Variability in the weekly Suspected Meningitis Cases (SMC) and the simulated daily mean of PM10 using WRF model with GOCART in West Africa is examined. We focus on the Eastern and Central Sahelian countries where dominant patterns of observed annual Meningitis cases are found in the periods of 1995-1997, 2000-2003 and 2007-2009 occurring in Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. We explore the anomalies of PM10 during this period of high suspected meningitis cases (January to April). During this period, the maximum of the monthly mean of PM10 occur between January and February in Burkina Faso, Niger and Nigeria. We will explore the role of wind circulation, SMC, and PM10 concentrations over West Africa.