Serogroup W135 Meningococcal Disease, The Gambia, 2012

Abstract

In 2012, an outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup W135 occurred in The Gambia. The attack rate was highest among young children. The associated risk factors were male sex, contact with meningitis patients, and difficult breathing. Enhanced surveillance facilitates early epidemic detection, and multiserogroup conjugate vaccine could reduce meningococcal epidemics in The Gambia.

Keywords

• Neisseria meningitidis
• serogroup W135
• meningitis
• Gambia
• epidemic
• outbreak