Group A meningococcal disease in the U.S. Pacific Northwest: epidemiology, clinical features, and effect of a vaccination control program.

G. W. Counts, D. F. Gregory, J. G. Spearman, B. A. Lee, G. A. Filice, K. K. Holmes, J. M. Griffiss

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

In 1975 an outbreak of group A meningococcal disease began in Seattle, Washington, and cases subsequently were recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest. Nearly one-half of the affected persons were Native Americans; two-thirds were alcohol abusers and/or habitués of skid road communities. In Seattle, group A meningococci colonized asymptomatic persons only if these individuals had contact with skid road (P = .006). The epidemic strain may have spread from American Indians in Manitoba, Canada. Traditional migration routes connect the two populations; asymptomatic American Indians on reservations in Washington carried group A meningococci. Vaccination programs were undertaken in four cities but only after cases occurred. In Seattle, vaccination reached 80% of the target population and was associated with a significant decrease in incidence of the disease, but cases recurred after the program ended. The social habits of skid road communities, combined with the "case-triggering" approach to, and premature termination of, vaccination programs, may have resulted in 56% of regional cases occurring after the start of the vaccination program in Seattle.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)640-648
Number of pages9
JournalReviews of infectious diseases
Volume6
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1984

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