title: U.S. military fatalities due to Neisseria meningitidis: case reports and historical perspective.
abstract: Meningococcal disease has historically been associated with military populations, particularly during periods of mobilization. Although the U.S. military has now been engaged in conflicts for nearly a decade, the incidence of meningococcal disease in the U.S. population as a whole has reached historic lows. Despite vaccination of all service members in basic military training, the risk of meningococcal disease appears to be equal to or greater than that of the civilian population. These 3 case reports of recent fatalities in the U.S. military and their historic contexts illustrate the circumstances under which meningococcus can strike and highlight the need for continued vigilance in military populations.
authors: Department of Meningococcal Vaccines, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Road, Room 3A16, Silver Spring, MD 209101, USA.
authors: Paul B
authors: PB
authors: Keiser
authors: Lanette
authors: L
authors: Hamilton
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Broderick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008889:Military Personnel; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult