Serogroup C invasive meningococcal disease among men who have sex with men and in gay-oriented social venues in the Paris region: July 2013 to December 2014

Abstract

In November 2014, French public health authorities renewed the recommendation to target for vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease men who have sex with men (MSM) and all individuals ≥25 years attending social venues associated with the gay community. This policy was extended beyond the Paris region as a reaction to the continuing spread of serogroup C isolates belonging to a new lineage within clonal complex cc11 since the recommendation was first issued in July 2013.

Increased incidence of invasive meningococcal disease of serogroup C / clonal complex 11, Tuscany, Italy, 2015 to 2016

“…Molecular characterisation of meningococcal of serogroup C isolates, in particular those belonging to the finetype C:P1.5-1,10-8:F3-6:ST-11(cc11), is in progress, to define the correlation with isolates reported in other countries [5,6]. The same analysis is now performed also in IMD cases occurring in other Italian Regions, in order to verify the spread of the strain involved in the outbreak in Tuscany to other Italian areas.…”

Increased Risk for Meningococcal Disease Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in the United States, 2012–2015

“…During 2010–2015, clusters of serogroup C meningococcal disease among men who have sex with men (MSM) were reported in the United States in New York City (NYC), Los Angeles County (LAC), and Chicago, disproportionately affecting MSM with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection [3]. In addition, clusters among MSM have been reported in Berlin and Paris [4, 5]. However, little is known about the overall burden or risk of meningococcal disease among MSM, including HIV-infected MSM, in the United States.…”

Genome-based study of a spatio-temporal cluster of invasive meningococcal disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, clonal complex 11

“…All but two isolates belonged to the finetype C:P1.5-1,10-8:F3-6:ST-11 (cc11). This strain had been already identified and characterized in several European countries, 9,10 including two smaller outbreaks occurred in Italy. 22,23 The number of IMD cases due to MenC reported in the first 10 months of 2015 in Tuscany was higher than expected.…”

“…Despite the extended use of the vaccine, outbreaks and smaller clusters of MenC belonging to the ST-11 clonal complex (cc11) (MenC:cc11) have continued to occur in Europe; in particular, the finetype C:P1.5-1,10-8:F3-6:ST-11 (cc11) was responsible of outbreaks in France and in Germany. 9,10 Since meningococci belonging to cc11 are considered highly virulent and able to cause outbreaks, it is important to identify and characterize this aggressive, vaccine preventable strain. Hereby, we describe a cluster of cases of IMD due to MenC:cc11 occurred between January and October 2015 in Tuscany.…”