Carriage of serogroup W-135, ET-37 meningococci in The Gambia: Implications for immunisation policy?

Jenny M. MacLennan, Rachel Urwin, Steven Obaro, David Griffiths, Brian Greenwood, Martin C.J. Maiden

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

We found high levels of symptomless carriage of a hyperinvasive Neisseria meningitidis strain (electrophoretic type 37 [ET-37], serogroup W-135) during a vaccine trial in Gambian children in 1996. Serogroup C, ET-37 complex meningococci cause 30-40% of meningococcal disease in countries such as the UK, and have a point prevalence of 0.5-1.0%. The recent Haj-associated spread of serogroup W-135, ET-37 complex meningococci, which has been accompanied by numerous secondary cases, might be explained by the apparently raised carriage rates reported here.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1078
Number of pages1
JournalLancet
Volume356
Issue number9235
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 23 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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