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New strategies may be needed to reduce burden of meningococcal disease in the United States
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Meningococcal disease has remained a burden in the United States despite a decrease in incidence of more than 60% during a nine-year period, according to results of a recent study.
The aim of the study was to provide epidemiological data for meningococcal disease in the United States between January 1998 and December 2007. A particular area of interest was January 2005, which marked the introduction of the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (serogroups A, C, Y and W-135).
There was an 11.3% mortality rate among 2,262 cases of meningococcal disease observed. The average annual incidence rate for meningococcal disease in the United States was estimated to be 0.53 cases per 100,000 population (95% CI, 0.51-0.55). It was estimated that there were 1,525 cases annually (95% CI, 1,470-1,598).
There was a decrease in annual incidence rate of 64.1% over the study period. For 100,000 population, there were 0.92 cases in 1998 and 0.33 cases in 2007.
The incidence rate of meningococcal disease among infants aged younger than 1 year was 5.38 cases per 100,000 population, which was the highest rate observed by the researchers.
No significant decrease in incidence of meningococcal disease caused by serogroup C or Y was observed among individuals aged 11 to 19 years between 2006-2007 and 2004-2005 following the introduction of the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine.
The researchers wrote that novel vaccination strategies targeting infants and preventing serogroup B disease may be necessary to further reduce the burden.
Cohn AC et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50:184-191.