Abstract

MARTINEZ, Ana I.  and  GRUPO DE TRABAJO SOBRE ENFERMEDAD MENINGOCOCICA DE CATALUNA et al. Epidemiology of the Meningococcal Disease in Catalonia before and after Vaccination against Serogroup C. Rev. Esp. Salud Publica [online]. 2009, vol.83, n.5, pp.725-735. ISSN 2173-9110.

Backgrounds: Meningococcal disease remains a serious public health problem worldwide. In Catalonia, after implementing the vaccination program, there has been a significant decrease in cases caused by meningococcus C. Methods: Reported cases of meningococcal disease between 1997 and 2008 were analyzed to determine the evolution after the introduction of a conjugated vaccine in Catalonia. Results: In < 6 years, the incidence rate of serogroup C fell from 7.6 to 0.6 per 100,000 persons/year in the periods before (1997-2000) and after (2001-2007) the introduction of the conjugate vaccine. In serogroup B, the reduction was from 15.4 to 11.1. In < 20 years case-fatality-rate increased only in serogroup B (3% and 7.4%). Serosubtype P1.15was the most frequent in serogroup B (31%), mainly associated with serotype 4 (80%), and in serogroup C subtype P1.5 (36%), with serotype 2a (86%). During 2008, 5 apparently unrelated cases of B:2a:P1.5 were identified in the same geographic area, with a case-fatality-rate of 80%. Conclusions: Exhaustive surveillance of circulating meningococcal strains is essential.

Keywords : Meningococcal infections; Epidemiology; Vaccines; conjugate.

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