An outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease in the province of Antwerp (Belgium) in 2001-2002.
In 2001 an outbreak of Neisseria menigitidis serogroup C occurred in the province of Antwerp (Belgium). Over a year the incidence rate of meningococcal disease (MD) increased from 3.9 per 100,000 to 9.1 per 100,000 with a shift from serogroup B (87%) in 2000 to serogroup C (66%) in 2001. The most prominent phenotype was C:2a:P1.2,5. The incidence rate for serogroup C MD increased from 0.4 per 100,000 to 4.5 per 100,000 in 2001. The case fatality rate was 6.7% in 2001. After the introduction of a mass vaccination campaign with a conjugated vaccine against serogroup C MD the incidence of serogroup C MD fell from 4.5 to 1.8 per 100,000. As a result of the analysis of this outbreak, it was proposed to offer a vaccine against serogroup C to all people under 19 years of age. Part of this plan has been implemented to date in Belgium.
De Schrijver
Koen
K
Department of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Antwerp, Belgium. koen.deschrijver@wvc.vlaanderen.be
Maes
Inge
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000472:pathogenicity; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D018805:Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013995:Time
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines