[Control of a community outbreak of group C meningococcal meningitis in Corupá, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, based on rapid and effective epidemiological surveillance and immunization].
In 2001, an outbreak of eight cases of meningococcal disease within seven days occurred in a small municipality in northern Santa Catarina State, Brazil. All cases occurred in adolescents and young adults, corresponding to an attack rate of 367.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in this population group. Laboratory tests identified serogroup C meningococcus in three out of eight cases. This led to vaccination of all inhabitants in the municipality over two years of age against serogroup C meningococcus -- an outbreak control strategy recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The absence of new cases during a 12-month period after vaccination indicates the importance of this type of intervention in disease control.
Diretoria de Vigilância Epidemiológica, Secretaria de Estado da Saúde de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. puricellirubens@hotmail.com
Rubens Carlos Bassani
RC
Puricelli
Emil
E
Kupek
Rita de Cássia C
Rde C
Bertoncini
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000276:immunology; D011159:Population Surveillance
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines