Epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal meningitis in Hefei city during 2005 and 2007

Objective To analyze the epidemiological character istics of meningococcalmening itis in Hefei city.Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis of the data from meningococcalmening itis epidemic situation in Hefei city during 2005 and 2007 wasmade.Results The cases of meningococcalmening itis during 2005 and 2007 were 330,and the incidence in 2005 was 1.64/100 000,comparing with 2.84/100 000 in 2007.120 cases were confirmed by laboratory,among which 117 cases(97.5%)were C sereo group.Most of the cases occured in winter and spring,which accounted for more than 70.0% from January to April each year.The highe stincidence age group during 2005 and 2006 was 15-19(8.63/100 000,11.30/100 000),while for 2007 it was 0-1(11.5/100 000),which was about 5.5 times of the same group in 2005.The proportion of the incidence in urban districts was 81.8% in 2005,while it was 43.6% in 2007.The proportion of the in cidence in rural districts was 18.2% in 2005,while it was 56.4% in 2007.To tally,there were 19 outbreak,samong which 8 occurred in schools(4 were in occupational school).Conclusion The epidemiological character istics of mening ococcal mening itis changed year by year,especially for age distribution.So the relevant mimunological strategies and prevention measures need to be updated.