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Serogroup W135 meningococcal disease, The Gambia, 2012

M Jahangir Hossain, Anna Roca, Grant A Mackenzie

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |August 23, 2013
    PubMed

    Insights

    A 2012 Neisseria meningitidis outbreak in The Gambia primarily affected young children. Risk factors included male sex and respiratory issues, highlighting the need for enhanced surveillance and conjugate vaccines to prevent future epidemics.

    Area of Science:

    • Epidemiology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 outbreaks pose significant public health threats.
    • Meningococcal disease disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including children.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the epidemiology of a 2012 Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 outbreak in The Gambia.
    • To identify risk factors associated with the outbreak and inform control strategies.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective analysis of outbreak data from The Gambia in 2012.
    • Case-based investigation to determine attack rates and risk factors.

    Main Results:

    • The attack rate was highest among young children.
    • Identified risk factors included male sex, contact with meningitis patients, and difficult breathing.
    • The outbreak strain was Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135.

    Conclusions:

    • Enhanced surveillance is crucial for early detection of meningococcal epidemics.
    • Multiserogroup conjugate vaccines show potential for reducing future meningococcal disease burden in The Gambia.
    Keywords:
    Neisseria meningitidisbacteriaepidemicmeningitisoutbreakserogroup W135the Gambia

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