53 cases per 100,000 population.34 This represents a two-thirds decline in incidence, from 0.92 in 1998 to 0.33 cases per 100,000 in 2007. The highest incidence observed in the United States occurred selleck compound in Oregon (1.52 cases per 100,000), resulting from ongoing hyperendemic serogroup B disease belonging to sequence type 41/44.31 The serogroup-specific incidence of B disease in Oregon was 1.01 cases per 100,000, compared with 0.15 cases per 100,000 in the other Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs) sites. Excluding Oregon isolates,

the serogroup distribution of ABCs isolates is 28.8% C, 29.9% B, 34.8% Y, and 6.1% W-135 and non-groupable. Serogroups A, X, and Z accounted for 1, 2, and 4 isolates in ABCs, respectively. Infants are at highest risk, with a second incidence

peak in late adolescence. Quadrivalent (A, C, Y, W-135) meningococcal conjugate vaccine has been recommended for adolescents since 2005, but was implemented without a catchup campaign.9 Among adolescents aged 11 to 19 years, 75% of cases are caused by serogroups contained in the quadrivalent vaccine. By 2007, coverage among adolescents reached 32.4%; however, the incidence of vaccine-preventable serogroups remained stable between the periods from 2004 to 2005 and 2006 to 2007, suggesting little observable early impact of the vaccination program.34,35 SRT1720 molecular weight By 2008, coverage had increased to 41.8%. In infants, 57% of cases are serogroup B, for which no vaccine is licensed in the United States. from In Canada, serogroups B, C, and Y are the most common causes of meningococcal disease (Figure 1).36 The overall incidence rates ranged from 0.62 in 2002 to 0.42 per 100,000 in 2006.37 In 2004 and 2005, serogroup-specific incidence was highest for serogroup B (0.27 and 0.30 per 100,000 persons, respectively).38 The highest rates were in children 0 to 4 years, followed by adolescents 15 to 19 years. Rates of disease in infants observed during 1995 through 2004 (average 9.2 per 100,000 persons) were comparable to those observed in infants in the United States in the same period (9.2 per 100,000 during 1991 through 2002).9,39 The occurrence of hyperendemic disease rates in children in certain provinces

prompted implementation of serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccination programs. Subsequently, the incidence of serogroup C disease decreased from 0.23 in 2002 to 0.08 per 100,000 in 2006. In contrast, the incidence remained stable for serogroups B, Y, and W-135. The decrease in serogroup C incidence occurred in provinces with the earliest immunization programs, and declines across all age groups suggest a herd immunity effect.37 Sporadic and outbreak-associated disease caused by ST-11 complex serogroup C emerged during the 1990s.40 Serogroup B disease caused by ST-269 complex has also emerged in Canada, as in the UK and other parts of the world.41 Published data are limited on incidence of meningococcal disease in Latin America.