Invasive Meningococcal Disease in the Post-COVID-19 Era in South America

During the COVID-19 pandemic, reductions in cases of bacterial diseases transmitted via the respiratory route were reported by the Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance Consortium. Here, we evaluate the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The epidemiology of meningococcal disease was reviewed in selected South American countries through 2023 from publicly available national surveillance system databases.

The incidence of IMD decreased substantially in 2020 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia and was followed by a trend of increased disease. Similarly to observations in several European countries, the post-pandemic rebounds in cases of IMD in the four South American countries included in this analysis were mainly caused by serogroup B, that became one of the predominant serogroups causing IMD in all four countries.

Enhanced surveillance of IMD, including genomic characterization of strains, is needed to inform public health policymakers and guide future vaccination strategies in the region.