Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in north Queensland, 1995 to 1999

This study describes all episodes of invasive meningococcal disease (n=120) acquired in north Queensland over the 5 year period 1995 to 1999. Indigenous people had a 3-fold greater risk than others of acquiring invasive meningococcal disease. There were 7 deaths, six in non-indigenous people. The majority (72.4%) of identified isolates were serogroup B. We found no evidence of significant resistance to the antibiotics recommended for treatment or chemoprophylaxis. Two outbreaks of disease were identified, one serogroup B and one serogroup C. Compared to the previous 5 years (1990 to 1994) there were far fewer cases of serogroup C disease and a lower incidence and risk of invasive meningococcal disease among indigenous people.