Declining Incidence of Invasive Meningococcal Disease in South Africa: 2003-2016.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is endemic to South Africa, where vaccine use is negligible. We describe the epidemiology of IMD in South Africa.

Methods

IMD cases were identified through a national, laboratory-based surveillance program, GERMS-SA, from 2003-2016. Clinical data on outcomes and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) statuses were available from 26 sentinel hospital sites. We conducted space-time analyses to detect clusters of serogroup-specific IMD cases.

Results

Over 14 years, 5249 IMD cases were identified. The incidence was 0.97 cases per 100 000 persons in 2003, peaked at 1.4 cases per 100 000 persons in 2006, and declined to 0.23 cases per 100 000 persons in 2016. Serogroups were confirmed in 3917 (75%) cases: serogroup A was present i

SUBMITTER: Meiring S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7848805 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature