A change in meningococcal serogroups in the west of Ireland?

Admission of patients to University College Hospital, Galway over a five month period commencing December 1989 indicates an increase in the incidence of Neisseria Meningitidis Serogroup C. Seven cases of Group CN. Meningitidis have been identified, five of them occurring over a four week period. A review of Meningococcal isolates occurring at this hospital over eleven years since 1979 shows, serogroup B as the predominant serogroup. Thirty-six isolates identified by serogrouping shows the distribution of serogroups as follows: Serogroup B 69.4%, Serogroup C 19.4%, Serogroup A 8.3%, Serogroup Z 2.7%. Serogrouping, and when available, further serotyping of meningococcal isolates is very important in order to follow epidemiological trends in the disease and to monitor the serogroups that cause outbreaks. This information can influence measures that can be taken in the prevention of spread of the disease as for example the use of vaccination as appropriate.