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

Emerg Infect Dis. 2018 Nov;24(11):2080-2083. doi: 10.3201/eid2411.170817.

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: Central African Republic; Neisseria meningitidis; bacteria; epidemics; meningitis/encephalitis; meningococci; serogroup W; sub-Saharan Africa; surveillance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Central African Republic / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / microbiology
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Neisseria meningitidis / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology*
  • Serogroup