Table 2.
Characteristics of meningococcal outbreaks/epidemics in Europe 1997–2020
| Region, setting | Outbreak years | Serogroup | Age group primarily affected | No. of cases | CFR (%) | Vaccine intervention | Outcome of intervention | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | ||||||||
| Community | 2000–2002 | C | 0–19 y | 288 | 5 | MenC-CV for 1–19 y | Expansion of vaccination of < 19 y to the rest of the country | [111] |
| Norway | ||||||||
| Community | 1995–1998 | C | 15–21 y | 22 | 14 | MenAC-PS vaccination of > 4000 2–5 y, 13–21 y | 14 cases after the intervention—8 due to the outbreak strain. One in a vaccinee. MenAC-PS continued to be offered to all 2-year-olds and new school students in the area in 1996–1998 | [112] |
| UK | ||||||||
| University | 1997 | C | 18–19 y | 6 | 50 | MenAC-PS for all first-year undergraduates, and students/staff living or working in halls of residence | No further cases | [113] |
| Nursery | 2013 | B | 2 y | 5 | – | No vaccine intervention | – | [114] |
| Community | 2015–2016 | W | 15–19 y | 15 | 40 | MenACWY-CV for 13–18 y and university entrants | MenACWY-CV replaced MenC-CV in routine 13–14 y and university entrants | [115] |
| College | 2016–2017 | B | 16–19 y | 4 | 50 | 4CMenB for high-risk social group associated with the outbreak | – | [116] |
| Netherlands | ||||||||
| Community | 1997 | C | 13–18 y | 7 | – | MenAC-PS for 2–20 y | No further cases | [117] |
| Community | 2001 | C | < 24 y | 7 | – | None described | – | [118] |
| France | ||||||||
| Community | 2000–2002 | B | 14–28 y | 8 | 13 | None described | [119] | |
| Community | 2008–2009 | B | ≤ 24 y | 11 | 9 | No vaccine available | – | [120] |
| Community | 2003–2006 | B | 1–19 y | 87 | 19 (confirmed cases) | MenBvac from 2006 for 1–5 y then 6–19 y | 81% reduction in 1–19 y 2008–2010 vs 2003–2006 | [121] |
| Community | 2016 | B | 17 y | 4 | 0 | 4CMenB for 2 m–24 y | 1 case outside the epidemic area > 3 months after the last case | [60] |
| Community | 2016–2017 | B | 11–19 y | 5 | 0 | 4CMenB for 11–19 y | No further cases | [61] |
| Germany | ||||||||
| Disco attendees | 1998 | C | 13–16 y | 9 | 11 | No vaccine intervention | – | [122] |
| Ireland | ||||||||
| (Indigenous minority) | 2010–2013 | B | 5–46 m | 8 | 0 | 4CMenB for close contacts 2 m-23 y | No further cases | [39] |
| Poland | ||||||||
| Community | 2009 | C | 13–17 y | 6 | 0 | Mandatory MenC-CV for 6–19 y, + police, border guards and airport ground staff < 24 y | – | [64] |
| Tuscany, Italy | ||||||||
| Community | 2015–2016 after infant MenC-CV programme introduced in 2005 | C | Median 14.5 y in vaccine failures, 28 y in previously unvaccinated | 61, 12 were vaccinate failures | 21 |
MenC-CV and MenACWY-CV for > 11 y |
MenC-CV booster added to regional schedule at 6–9 y | [62] |
| Sardinia | ||||||||
| Family cluster and nightclub attendees | 2018 | B | 18–21 y | 7 | 29 | 4CMenB for close contacts: MenB and MenACWY for community contacts | No further cases due to the outbreak strain | [123] |
4CMenB 4-component meningococcal serogroup B vaccine, CFR case fatality rate, CV conjugate vaccine, Men(A/C/W/Y) meningococcal vaccine containing one serogroup or combinations of serogroups A, C, W and Y, m months of age, MenBVac meningococcal serogroup B outer membrane protein vaccine, PS polysaccharide vaccine, Ref source reference, y years of age