Epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in the United States: review of recent data and identified risk factors.

INTRODUCTION

Tracking the spread of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the United States is important for identifying risk factors and devising public health strategies to prevent infection.

METHODS

The epidemiology of IMD in the United States before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2016-2024) was assessed using surveillance data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS) and the Enhanced Meningococcal Disease Surveillance program (EMDS).

RESULTS

IMD case numbers declined during the pandemic (2020-2021) to 208 in 2021 but rebounded to 312 in 2022 and have continued to increase through 2024 (provisionally 477 cases). In 2022, serogroup C was the predominant serogroup (107 cases), followed by serogroup B (61 cases). Except during the pandemic, IMD cases were higher among those attending versus not attending college. During and after the pandemic, groups with the highest IMD incidence were those <1 year of age (range, 0.38-0.56 cases per 100,000 persons) and within the Black population (range, 0.09-0.19 cases per 100,000 persons). The percentage of IMD cases occurring after the pandemic in men who have sex with men and those with HIV increased substantially from during the pandemic. The percentage of IMD cases that occurred among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) was relatively high, ranging from 2.4-6.3%.

CONCLUSION

The data indicate a rebound in IMD after the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of strengthening surveillance and vaccination among high-risk populations.