Meningococcal infections in England and Wales: 1993

One thousand two hundred and ninety-seven meningococcal isolates of clinical significance were submitted for examination to the PHLS Meningococcal Reference Unit in 1993; almost the same total as in 1992. Changes in the number of isolates from individual regions ranged from falls of 25% to increases of 42%. The incidence of meningococcal disease rose late in 1993, apparently affected by the epidemic of influenza. The number of statutory notifications reported to the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys was--for the first time--markedly higher than the number of laboratory diagnosed cases. Serodiagnosis was used to confirm an increased number of clinically suspected cases in 1993.