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Serotype-specific outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in Iquique, Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

C. Cruz ,
G. Pavez ,
E. Aguilar ,
L. Grawe ,
J. Cam ,
F. Mendez ,
J. Garcia ,
S. Ruiz ,
P. Vicent  and
I. Canepa
...Show all authors
C. Cruz
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
G. Pavez
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
E. Aguilar
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
L. Grawe
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
J. Cam
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
F. Mendez
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
J. Garcia
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
S. Ruiz
Affiliation:
Institute of Public Health, Santiago, Chile
P. Vicent
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Santiago, Chile
I. Canepa
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Santiago, Chile
M. Martinez
Affiliation:
Iquique Health Service, Iquique, Chile
J. Boslego
Affiliation:
Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC
W. Zollinger
Affiliation:
Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC
J. Arthur
Affiliation:
Department of Bacterial Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC
D. Caugant
Affiliation:
National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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From 1979 to August 1987, there have been 178 cases of meningococcal disease in Iquique, Chile, a city of about 140000. The attack rate for the last 5 years has been in excess of 20/100000 per year, more than 20 times greater than for the country overall. The mortality rate was 6%. The disease occurred in patients with ages from 4 months to 60 years, but 89% of cases were in patients <21 years. The largest number of cases were in the age group 5–9 years (n = 54), but the highest incidence occurred in children less than 1 year of age (72·8/100000 per year). The male/female ratio was 1·2. Cases occurred all year round with little seasonal variation. Of the 178 cases, 173 were biologically confirmed. Serogroup analysis of strains from 135 patients revealed A = 1, B = 124, C = 10. Forty-four group B strains from 1985–7 were serotyped: 15:P1.3 = 36, 15:NT = 4, 4:P1.3 = 2, NT:NT = 2. Ten of 11 of the outbreak strains tested were sulfadiazine-resistant. This is the first recognized outbreak caused by a Gp B:15 strain in South America. It shares many of the characteristics of outbreaks caused by closely related strains in Europe, such as a predilection for older children and adolescents, sulfadiazine-resistance, and sustained high attack rates. The Iquique strain (B:15:P1.3) belongs to the same genetic clone (ET-5 complex) as the Norway (B:15:P1.16) and the Cuban (B:4:P1.15) strains.

Type
Special Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 105 , Issue 1 , August 1990 , pp. 119 - 126
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

References

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