Emergence of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup W, Central African Republic, 2015–2016

Abstract

We analyzed data from the 2015 and 2016 meningitis epidemic seasons in Central African Republic as part of the national disease surveillance. Of 80 tested specimens, 66 belonged to meningococcal serogroup W. Further analysis found that 97.7% of 44 isolates belonged to the hyperinvasive clonal complex sequence type 11.

Keywords

• epidemics
• serogroup W
• meningitis/encephalitis
• Neisseria meningitidis
• Central African Republic
• sub-Saharan Africa