Meningococcal Disease, 2007

Twenty-two cases of Neisseria meningitidis invasive disease (0.4 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2007, compared to 15 cases in 2006. There were six (27%) serogroup B cases, nine (41%) serogroup C, six (27%) serogroup Y, and one (5%) ungroupable case. In addition, there were five culture-negative suspect cases that were positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the PHL.

Case-patients ranged in age from 1 to 82 years, with a median of 19 years. Fifty percent of the cases occurred in the metropolitan area. Six (27%) case-patients had bacteremia without another focus of infection and 16 (73%) had meningitis. One individual had two episodes of invasive meningococcal disease. All cases were sporadic, with no definite epidemiologic links. One death occurred; a 5-year-old male died of meningitis attributed to serogroup B.

In January 2005, a meningococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine for serogroups A,C,Y, and W-135 (MCV4) was licensed for use in the United States for persons aged 11 to 55 years. In 2007, the license was approved to include 2 to 10 year olds. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend immunization with the new vaccine at age 11-12 years, or at high school entry, as well as for college freshmen living in dormitories, and other groups in the licensed age range previously determined to be at high risk. In 2006, MDH in collaboration with the CDC and other sites nationwide, began a case-control study of the efficacy of MCV4. Eight cases occurred among 11-22 year-olds, including one college student with two episodes of disease and three high school students. One case had serogroup B disease and one had disease caused by an ungroupable isolate that would not have been prevented by the vaccine. There was also a culture-negative, PCR-positive suspected case of serogroup C disease in a high school student. The case-patients in this age group who had serogroup C or serogroup Y disease had not received meningococcal vaccine except for the case-patient with recurrent disease who had received vaccine prior to the second episode of illness.

• For up to date information see>> Meningococcal Disease
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2007