Many respiratory viruses have temporal association with meningococcal disease.

BACKGROUND

Previous ecological studies have shown a temporal and spatial association between influenza epidemics and meningococcal disease (MNG); however, none have examined more than two respiratory viruses.

METHODS

Data were obtained in Chile between 2000 and 2005 on confirmed cases of MNG and all confirmed cases of respiratory viruses (influenza A and B; parainfluenza; adenovirus; and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]). Both variables were divided by epidemiological weeks, age range, and regions. Models of transference functions were run for rates of MNG.

RESULTS

In this period, 1022 reported cases of MNG and 34,737 cases of respiratory virus were identified (25,137 RSV; 4300 parainfluenza; 2527 influenza-A; 356 influenza-B; and 2417 adenovirus). RSV was the major independent virus temporally associated to MNG (it appears one week before MNG), followed by parainfluenza, influenza-B, adenovirus, and influenza-A.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of MNG in Chile is temporally associated to all of the respiratory viruses studied, but with variability according age range, and regions.