Meningococcal Disease, 2014

Six cases of Neisseria meningitidis invasive disease (0.11 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2014 compared to 12 in 2013. There were 3 serogroup B, 2 serogroup C, and 1 serogroup W135 case. All cases were sporadic.

Cases ranged in age from 8 months to 48 years. Sixty-seven percent of the cases occurred in the metropolitan area. Two cases had meningitis, 3 had bacteremia without another focus of infection (of these 2 also had septic shock), and 1 had pneumonia. One death occurred in the W135 serogroup case.

In 2014, 1 case-isolate demonstrated intermediate resistance to both ampicillin and penicillin. There were no 2014 case isolates with ciprofloxacin resistance. In 2008, 2 isolates from cases occurring in northwestern Minnesota had nalidixic acid MICs >8 µg/ml and ciprofloxacin MICs of 0.25 µg/ml indicative of resistance.

In 2012, meningococcal conjugate vaccine MenHibrix®, covering serogroups Y and C and Haemophilus influenzae b, was extended for licensed use in the United States to 6 weeks of age. Menactra® was licensed for use in the United States in January 2005 for persons aged 11 to 55 years, and was the first meningococcal polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccine for serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 (MCV4). In 2011, the license was approved to include 9 through 23 months. The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and American Academy of Pediatrics recommend immunization with either vaccine routinely at age 11-12 years or at high school entry and a booster dose at age 16, 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 2015, ACIP made recommendations for the newly licensed serogroup B meningococcal vaccine.

• For up to date information see>> Meningococcal Disease
• Full issue>> Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health, 2014