Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease

Changing epidemiology of meningococcal disease. The epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is characterized by a marked variation in incidence and serogroup distribution by geographical region and over time. Immunization programs against serogroups A, C, W, Y in adolescents in North America or mass vaccination campaigns against serogroup A in Sub-Saharan Africa reduced the disease burden in these affected areas. In Europe, immunization against serogroup C in several countries has been successful in reducing incidence through direct and indirect effect. In France, surveillance of IMD is based on mandatory notification and strain genetic characterization at the National reference Center for meningococci. Despite its low incidence (between 0.7 and 1.6 cases per 100,000 people), the disease remains of public health concern because it affects mostly young children and the case fatality rate is around 10%. The rates of vaccination coverage for serogroup C vaccines remain insufficient, particularly among adolescents, to induce herd immunity.