Outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C outside the meningitis belt-Liberia, 2017: an epidemiological and laboratory investigation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

On April 25, 2017, a cluster of unexplained illnesses and deaths associated with a funeral was reported in Sinoe County, Liberia. Molecular testing identified Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (NmC) in specimens from patients. We describe the epidemiological investigation of this cluster and metagenomic characterisation of the outbreak strain.

Methods

We collected epidemiological data from the field investigation and medical records review. Confirmed, probable, and suspected cases were defined on the basis of molecular testing and signs or symptoms of meningococcal disease. Metagenomic sequences from patient specimens were compared with 141 meningococcal isolate genomes to determine strain lineage.

Findings

28 meningococcal disease cases were identified, w

SUBMITTER: Bozio CH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6545567 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature