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An outbreak of meningococcal disease in Stonehouse: planning and execution of a large-scale survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

J. M. Stuart ,
K. A. V. Cartwright ,
D. M. Jones ,
N. D. Noah ,
R. J. Wall ,
C. Caroline Blackwell ,
A. E. Jephcott  and
I. R. Ferguson
J. M. Stuart
Affiliation:
Department of Community Medicine, Rikenel, Gloucester GL1 1LY
K. A. V. Cartwright
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Gloucester Royal Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester GL1 3NN
D. M. Jones
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Withington Hospital, Manchester M20 SLR
N. D. Noah
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Colindale, London NW9 5EQ
R. J. Wall
Affiliation:
Clinical Research Centre, Northwick Park, Harrow, London
C. Caroline Blackwell
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh
A. E. Jephcott
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Myrtle Road, Kingsdown, Bristol BS2 SEL
I. R. Ferguson
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, County Hospital, Hereford HR1 2ER
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Summary

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In November 1986 a large-scale survey was undertaken in the Gloucestershire town of Stonehouse during an outbreak of meningococcal disease due to group B type 15 subtype Pl. 16 sulphonamide-resistant strains. There were 15 cases in Stonehouse residents during the 4 years from April 1983, an annual attack rate of 56·5 per 100000. Four secondary cases occurred despite rifampicin prophylaxis. The objectives of this community survey were to investigate patterns of meningococcal carriage, transmission and immunity and to determine the proportion of non-secretors of blood group antigens in the Stonehouse population find amongst meningococcal carriers. A total of 6237 subjects participated including 75% of the 6635 Stonehouse residents. Over 97% of the participants provided all three of the requested specimens – nasopharyngeal swabs, saliva and blood samples.

The co-operation between the many organizations involved in the detailed preliminary planning was instrumental in the success of the survey; in particular the value of effective collaboration between Departments of Community Medicine and Microbiology and of the Public Health Laboratory Service network of laboratories in undertaking investigations of this size and type was clearly demonstrated.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 99 , Issue 3 , December 1987 , pp. 579 - 589
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

References

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