This article reviews recent data on meningococcal disease and carriage in the Philippines. It aims to provide information on the epidemiology of meningococcal disease, its carriage, data on prevention, and the impact of vaccination on disease and carriage. The World Health Organization considers the Philippines as having low endemicity for meningococcal disease. However, current data underestimates the true burden in the country due to many factors. In recent years, data from the Philippines show a high case-fatality rate since only the septicemic form is being reported. Studies on asymptomatic meningococcal carriage rates are sparse, with one study by Gonzales, et al. investigating the prevalence of meningococcal nasopharyngeal carriage in Filipinos aged 5-24 years old living in an urban setting. The study showed that the overall prevalence of carriage was 3.7% and was highest (9%) among the 10-14 age group. Serogroup B was the most common isolate. Effective meningococcal vaccines are available. Although not included in the National Immunization Program, medical societies recommend giving vaccines to individuals at high risk of infection. Data on local epidemiology accounting for the disease and asymptomatic carriage are important to strengthen future programs on immunization and prevention of meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal Infections ; Meningococcal Vaccines

China ; Humans ; Meningococcal Infections ; Serogroup

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Meningococcal Infections ; epidemiology

China ; Humans ; Meningococcal Infections ; prevention & control ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; classification ; therapeutic use ; Practice Guidelines as Topic

Introduction: Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis that can present as fever or respiratory infection developing into a fulminant course. In February 2005, WHO experts confirmed that the Cordillera Administrative Region of the Philippines experienced an outbreak of Serogroup A Meningococcal Disease where there was an unusually large proportion of meningococcemia cases. Objectives: This study aims to describe the clinical profile of pediatric patients discharged from a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of meningococcal disease and to identify the etiologic agent. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive study involving chart review of patients 0-18 years of age discharged from October 2004 to October 2006 with a diagnosis of either meningococcemia, meningococcal meningitis or both. Results: There were 217 discharges with this diagnosis. Of these, 100 (46.08%) belonged to the 0-18 years of age, 47% of who were male, 64% were Baguio residents, 28% were 0-1 year old, 19% were between 2-5 years old and 26% were 15-18 years old. 100% had a history of fever and 90% had rashes. 51% had a discharge diagnosis of Meningococcemia. 32% died due to septic shock, DIC. The etiologic agent was identified as Neisseria meningitidis. Conclusion: Of the study population, 53% were female. Children 0-5 years of age were most affected (47%). 100% had a history of fever. 32% died of septic shock. 62% were confirmed by laboratory. The culprit of this epidemic was a hypervirulent strain of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup A Subtype A 1.9 sensitive to Penicillin.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child Preschool ; Infant ; Infant Newborn ; MENINGOCOCCAL INFECTIONS ; NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS ; MENINGITIS, MENINGOCOCCAL

Meningococcal infection is a life threatening disease that leaves serious sequelae in spite of appropriate treatment, thus vaccination for high risk groups are important for the prevention of meningococcal diseases. However, the vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis has not been available in Korea until we introduced bivalent (serogroup A and C) polysaccharide vaccine for the first time for relief works in our university hospital. The vaccine was administered from January 2005 to March 2007 to 317 persons. Of the groups administered, the largest group among them were 133 (133/317, 42%) students who planned to study abroad and needed the vaccination for secure entrance to school dormitories. This group was followed by health care workers, travellers to the regions of the world with high risks of meningococcal diseases, and splenectomised patients. To rationalize the domestic use of meningococcal vaccine, the availability of vaccines first needs to be simplified by introducing them to the domestic market; for this to be possible, the approval system for vaccines should be reformed and epidemiogical studies need to be carried out.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Korea ; Meningococcal Infections ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Relief Work ; Vaccination* ; Vaccines

Meningococcal infection is a life threatening disease that leaves serious sequelae in spite of appropriate treatment, thus vaccination for high risk groups are important for the prevention of meningococcal diseases. However, the vaccine for Neisseria meningitidis has not been available in Korea until we introduced bivalent (serogroup A and C) polysaccharide vaccine for the first time for relief works in our university hospital. The vaccine was administered from January 2005 to March 2007 to 317 persons. Of the groups administered, the largest group among them were 133 (133/317, 42%) students who planned to study abroad and needed the vaccination for secure entrance to school dormitories. This group was followed by health care workers, travellers to the regions of the world with high risks of meningococcal diseases, and splenectomised patients. To rationalize the domestic use of meningococcal vaccine, the availability of vaccines first needs to be simplified by introducing them to the domestic market; for this to be possible, the approval system for vaccines should be reformed and epidemiogical studies need to be carried out.
Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Korea ; Meningococcal Infections ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Neisseria meningitidis ; Relief Work ; Vaccination* ; Vaccines

This research and development of MenB meningococcal vaccines includes two technical routes: outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines and recombinant protein vaccines. This article intends to review the development, production and application of MenB meningococcal OMV vaccines in order to provide a reference for the development of MenB meningococcal OMV vaccine in China.
Antigens, Bacterial ; Humans ; Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control* ; Meningococcal Vaccines ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B ; Serogroup ; Vaccines, Synthetic

Meningococcal vaccines in the Chinese market include meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine, and a combined vaccine. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines immunization schedules vary by vaccine manufacturer, and often cause confusion in immunization practices. Based on the epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal disease, serogroup distribution of Neisseria meningitidis, and research progress on the immunogenicity and safety of meningococcal vaccines, we developed an experts' consensus on immunization with meningococcal vaccines to provide guidance for immunization providers and for centers for disease control and prevention staff.
China ; Consensus ; Humans ; Immunization ; Meningococcal Infections/prevention & control* ; Meningococcal Vaccines/administration & dosage* ; Vaccines, Conjugate

This study was performed to determine the incidence and serogroups of meningococcal disease in the Korean Army. From August 2000 to July 2001, we identified prospective cases in the Korean Army. Meningococcal disease was confirmed by isolation of Neisseria meningitidis or detection of its antigen by latex agglutination from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood. Polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) were performed in the crgA gene to identify N. meningitidis regardless of its serogroup, and then in orf-2 (serogroup A) and siaD (serogroups B, C, Y, and W135) respectively for serogroup prediction. During the study period, twelve patients (four meningitis and eight septicaemia) were identified. The annual incidence was 2.2 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-3.8) among 550,000 private soldiers. Latex agglutinations were positive to A/C/Y/W135 polyvalent latex, but not to B latex in all patients. PCRs of crgA gene were positive in ten patients, whose samples (2 isolates from CSF, 2 CSFs, and 6 sera) were stored. In PCRs for serogroup prediction, one isolate was serogroup A, and one isolate and two sera were serogroup C. The need for meningococcal vaccination would be considered in the Korean Army through the cost-benefit analysis based on the result of this study.
Adult ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Meningococcal Infections/epidemiology* ; Meningococcal Infections/physiopathology ; Military Personnel* ; Neisseria meningitidis/genetics ; Serotyping