Title |
Control of group C meningococcal disease in Australian Aboriginal children by mass rifampicin chemoprophylaxis and vaccination
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Published in |
The Lancet, July 1995
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DOI | 10.1016/s0140-6736(95)92651-8 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
M.C Pearce, J.W Sheridan, M.C Pearce, D.M Jones, G.W Lawrence, D.M Murphy, B Masutti, C McCosker, V Douglas, D George, A O'Keefe, F Young, M Thomson, B Gorman, D Hansman, P.S Hill |
Abstract |
An outbreak of 12 cases of meningitis, 11 caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, occurred at Doomadgee from September, 1990, to April, 1991. The incidence of meningitis was 17.55/10(3) person-years. Only children aged 1-10 years were affected. In October, 1990, or shortly thereafter, 473/509 children aged between 1 and 15 years inclusive had one dose of Mencevax AC. From the time of vaccination until April, 1991, a further eight cases occurred, six in vaccinated children. Vaccine efficacy in 1-15 year olds was calculated as 77%. Despite this, in April, 1991, the prevalence of antibody to group C polysaccharide in vaccinated children (78%) was not significantly different from that in unvaccinated children and adults. 46 nonresponders were revaccinated, and, in February, 1992, 78% had antibodies to group C polysaccharide. In April, 1991, an estimated 3.0% of the population had group C organisms, carriage being directly related to household crowding. In June, 1991, 2 months after mass prophylaxis with rifampicin, none of these individuals were carriers. In October, 1991, the carriage rate of group C organisms was 0.64%. There have been no further cases caused by the epidemic strain. Although uncrowded housing is a basic need, mass chemoprophylaxis and two doses of vaccine for children should be used in similar outbreaks. |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 19 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Other | 3 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 3 | 16% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 2 | 11% |
Researcher | 2 | 11% |
Student > Master | 2 | 11% |
Other | 4 | 21% |
Unknown | 3 | 16% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 7 | 37% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 2 | 11% |
Environmental Science | 1 | 5% |
Immunology and Microbiology | 1 | 5% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 1 | 5% |
Other | 2 | 11% |
Unknown | 5 | 26% |