Meningococcal meningitis affects approximately one out of every 100,000 people in the United States, accounting for 1,200-2,800 cases of meningitis each year with the highest rates of disease in children less than 2 years old.
3 The incidence of meningococcal meningitis peaks during December and January. Serogroups B, C, and Y are responsible for the majority of meningococcal meningitis cases in the United States—each accounting for about 30% of cases; serogroups B and C occur in sporadic cases and outbreaks, while serogroup Y indicated in endemic disease.
3 Over 50% of meningococcal disease in children less than 1 year old is due to serogroup B, for which there is no available vaccine.
3 Over 75% of meningococcal disease in all people older than 11 is caused by C, Y, and W-135 serotypes, for which vaccines are available.
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Greater than 95% of meningococcal meningitis cases are isolated and sporadic, with fewer than 5% of cases linked to contagious outbreaks.
3 The meningococcal meningitis mortality rate is greater than 10%, and almost 20% of survivors have chronic neurologic consequences after the infection.
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