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Abstract

Background

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) epidemiology has fluctuated over the past 25 years and varies among serogroups, age groups and geographical locations.

Aim

This study analysed the evolution of European IMD epidemiology from 2008 to 2017 to identify trends.

Methods

Reported number of IMD cases and associated incidence were extracted from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Surveillance Atlas for Infectious Diseases for individual European countries. Epidemiology and its evolution were analysed by serogroup and age group.

Results

Overall IMD incidence decreased by 34.4% between 2008 and 2017. Serogroup B remained predominant in 2017; despite a 56.1% decrease over the 10-year period, the rate of decrease has slowed in recent years and varies by age group. Serogroup C was the second most prevalent serogroup until 2016. Its incidence decreased among individuals aged 1–24 years, the main population targeted by MenC vaccination campaigns, but increases have occurred in other age groups. Incidences of serogroups W and Y were low but increased by > 500% and > 130% (to 0.10 and 0.07/100,000) respectively, from 2008 to 2017. Considering all serogroups, a marked modification of the evolution trends by age group has occurred, with increases in incidence mainly affecting older age groups.

Conclusion

Although the overall IMD incidence decreased in Europe between 2008 and 2017, increases were observed for serogroups W and Y, and in the older population when considering all serogroups. It may be necessary to adapt current vaccination strategies to reflect epidemiological changes and their likely future evolution.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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2022-01-20
2024-12-26
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Evolution of invasive meningococcal disease epidemiology in Europe, 2008 to 2017
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Charles+Nuttens&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Nuttens Charles</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jamie+Findlow&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Findlow Jamie</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Paul+Balmer&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Balmer Paul</a>, <a href="/search?value1=David+L+Swerdlow&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Swerdlow David L</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Myint+Tin+Tin+Htar&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Tin Tin Htar Myint</a></span>. Evolution of invasive meningococcal disease epidemiology in Europe, 2008 to 2017. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2022;27(3):pii=2002075. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.3.2002075" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.3.2002075</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 10 Dec 2020;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 27 Oct 2021 </span> </p>
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