Emerging Infectious Diseases (Feb 2007)

Meningococcal Disease in South Africa, 1999–2002

  • Garry B. Coulson,
  • Meningeal Disease Surveillance in South Africa,
  • Mignon du Plessis,
  • Anthony M. Smith,
  • Linda de Gouveia,
  • Keith P. Klugman,
  • Anne von Gottberg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid1302.051553
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 273 – 273

Abstract

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We describe the epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in South Africa from August 1999 through July 2002, as reported to a laboratory-based surveillance system. Neisseria meningitidis isolates were further characterized. In total, 854 cases of laboratory-confirmed disease were reported, with an annual incidence rate of 0.64/100,000 population. Incidence was highest in infants <1 year of age. Serogroup B caused 41% of cases; serogroup A, 23%; serogroup Y, 21%; serogroup C, 8%; and serogroup W135, 5%. Serogroup B was the predominant serogroup in Western Cape Province, and disease rates remained stable. Serogroup A was most prevalent in Gauteng Province and increased over the 3 years. On pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis, serogroup A strains showed clonality, and serogroup B demonstrated considerable diversity. Selected isolates of serogroup A belonged to sequence type (ST)-1 (subgroup I/II) complex, serogroup B to ST-32/electrophoretic type (ET)-5 complex, and serogroup W135 to ST-11/ET-37 complex.

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