MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS OUTBREAK IN TRINIDAD, 1998

1	University of the West Indies,Department of Life Sciences, St. Augustine Trinidad, West Indies
2	University of the West Indies, Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, Federation Park, Port of Spain, Trinidad
3	University of the West Indies, Department of Para Clinical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Mt. Hope, Trinidad
4	University of Miami School of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Miami, Florida, USA

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR

Dave D. Chadee

Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Trinidad, West Indies Phone-1-868-645-3232-7 Ext. 3740 Fax: 1-868-663-6129

Online publication date: 2006-04-15

Publication date: 2006-04-15

Eur J Gen Med 2006;3(2):49–53

DOI: https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/82377

Article (PDF)

KEYWORDS

Neisseria meningitidis

ABSTRACT

Aim: To describe an outbreak of serogroup B neisseria meningitidis occurred in Trinidad during 1998. Methods: Epidemiological survey was conducted following the identification of the fist case in El Socorroi Trinidat. Results: Thirteen other cases were detected with the majority found among the <5 age group which accounted for 42.9%, followed by the 45-64 age group with 14.3%. Mortality was 57.1%, highest among the <5 age group accounting for 50% followed by the 25-44 and 45-64 age groups with 25%, respectively. Two distinct clusters of N. meningitidis cases were identified using GPS/ GIS systems which graphically demonstrated the link between the two clusters. Conclusion: The implications of these results are discussed with respect to surveillance systems.

Submit your paper

For Authors