Emergence of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup W, Central African Republic, 2015–2016

Thierry Frank (1) , Eva Hong (2) , Jean-Robert Mbecko (1) , Jean-Pierre Lombart (1) , Muhamed-Kheir Taha (2) , Pierre-Alain Rubbo (1)

1 Institut Pasteur de Bangui
2 CNR - Centre National de Référence des Méningocoques et Haemophilus influenzae - National Reference Center Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae

We analyzed data from the 2015 and 2016 meningitis epidemic seasons in Central African Republic as part of the national disease surveillance. Of 80 tested specimens, 66 belonged to meningococcal serogroup W. Further analysis found that 97.7% of 44 isolates belonged to the hyperinvasive clonal complex sequence type 11.

Keywords: surveillance; sub-Saharan Africa; serogroup W; meningococci; meningitis/encephalitis; epidemics; bacteria; Neisseria meningitidis; Central African Republic

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Bacteriology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biodiversity; Populations and Evolution [q-bio.PE]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Santé publique et épidémiologie

Thierry Frank, Eva Hong, Jean-Robert Mbecko, Jean-Pierre Lombart, Muhamed-Kheir Taha, et al.. Emergence of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup W, Central African Republic, 2015–2016. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2018, 24 (11), pp.2080-2083. ⟨10.3201/eid2411.170817⟩. ⟨pasteur-02013216⟩