Rise in Group W Meningococcal Carriage in University Students, United Kingdom

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Jun;23(6):1009-1011. doi: 10.3201/eid2306.161768.

Abstract

MenACWY conjugate vaccination was recently introduced in the United Kingdom for adolescents and young adults to reduce disease from infection by Neisseria meningitidis group W. We conducted a cross-sectional meningococcal carriage study in first-year UK university students. Despite 71% MenACWY vaccine coverage, carriage of group W increased substantially.

Keywords: MenACWY; Neisseria meningitidis; United Kingdom; bacteria; carrier state; epidemiology; meningitis/encephalitis; meningococcus; serogroup W-135; students; vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antigens, Bacterial / blood*
  • Carrier State
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Vaccination
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology*
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / immunology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / microbiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / classification
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / immunology
  • Neisseria meningitidis / isolation & purification
  • Serogroup
  • Students
  • United Kingdom / epidemiology
  • Universities
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Meningococcal Vaccines