Control of a community outbreak of group C meningococcal meningitis in Corupá, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, based on rapid and effective epidemiological surveillance and immunization

Abstract

In 2001, an outbreak of eight cases of meningococcal disease within seven days occurred in a small municipality in northern Santa Catarina State, Brazil. All cases occurred in adolescents and young adults, corresponding to an attack rate of 367.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in this population group. Laboratory tests identified serogroup C meningococcus in three out of eight cases. This led to vaccination of all inhabitants in the municipality over two years of age against serogroup C meningococcus -- an outbreak control strategy recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The absence of new cases during a 12-month period after vaccination indicates the importance of this type of intervention in disease control.