Meningococcal Disease
Annual Summary of Reportable Diseases

Meningococcal disease is a rare, serious illness caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Three N. meningitidis (NM) invasive disease cases (0.05 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2022; there were no cases in 2021, 6 cases in 2020, four cases in 2019, no cases in 2018, and 5 cases in 2017. Among 2022 cases, one was serogroup B, and 2 were non-groupable. All cases were sporadic.

Cases ranged in age from 19 to 52 years. All cases occurred in the metropolitan area and all cases had meningitis. Two of the cases (non-groupable serotype) had received MenACWY vaccination. There were no deaths. The quadrivalent conjugate vaccine, MenACWY is recommended at age 11- 12 years with a booster at age 16. Meningococcal B vaccine is recommended for persons 10 years of age and older with specific risk factors. It should also be considered and offered to those 16-23 years of age, especially in outbreak situations. Data on meningococcal vaccination rates in Minnesota can be found here: Adolescent Immunization Coverage Over Time.

Rates of meningococcal disease have declined in the United States since the 1990s and remain low today. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but rates of disease are highest in children younger than one year old, followed by a second peak in adolescence. Among adolescents and young adults, those 16 through 23 years old have the highest rates of meningococcal disease nationally.

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No meningococcal cases were reported in 2021.

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Six Neisseria meningitidis (NM) invasive disease cases (0.1 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2020; there were 4 cases in 2019, 0 cases in 2018, 5 cases in 2017, and 5 cases in 2016. Three were serogroup B, one was serogroup Y, and 2 were non-groupable. All cases were sporadic.

Cases ranged in age from 25 to 70 years. Four cases occurred in the metropolitan area and 2 were outstate Minnesota. Four cases had meningitis (2 of these also had septic shock, and 1 also had pneumonia), 1 had bacteremia without another focus of infection, and 1 had septic arthritis. There were no deaths.

Incidence of invasive NM was stable at about 0.3 cases per 100,000 persons since 2005 (with the exception of 2008 when incidence increased to 0.6 cases per 100,000 persons); however, invasive NM incidence has decreased since 2011. The quadrivalent conjugate vaccine, MenACWY is recommended at 11- 12 years with a booster at age 16. The 2020 vaccination rates for MenACWY among 13 year old Minnesota adolescents dropped 7% to 71.8%. This gap developed during the COVID-19 pandemic likely due to stay-at-home measures. Clinicians are urged to recall adolescents for catch-up vaccination that have missed vaccines usually given at 11-12 years. Rates for the MenACWY booster dose by age 19 years are improving; 2020 data show a rate of 53.7%. (Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, 2020 data). Meningococcal B vaccine DCN 48;1 2022 13 continued... is recommended for persons 10 years of age and older with specific risk factors. It should also be considered and offered to those 16-23 years of age, especially in outbreak situations.

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Four Neisseria meningitidis (NM) invasive disease cases (0.07 per 100,000 population) were reported in 2019; there were no cases in 2018, 5 cases in 2017, and 5 cases in 2016. Three were serogroup B and 1 was serogroup Y. All cases were sporadic.

Cases ranged in age from 19 years to 46 years. All cases occurred in the metropolitan area. Three cases had meningitis and 1 had bacteremia without another focus of infection. There were no deaths.

Incidence of invasive NM was stable at about 0.30 cases per 100,000 persons since 2005 (with the exception of 2008 when incidence increased to 0.57 cases per 100,000 persons); however, invasive NM incidence has decreased since 2011. The quadrivalent conjugate vaccine, MenACWY is recommended at 11- 12 years with a booster at age 16. Vaccination rates for at least 1 dose among 13-17 year old Minnesota adolescents is 78.5%; rates for the booster are lagging at 26.9% (Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, 2018 data). Meningococcal B vaccine is recommended for persons 10 years of age and older with specific risk factors. It should especially be considered for those 16-23 years of age, especially in outbreak situations.

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For the first time ever, there were no Neisseria meningitidis (NM) invasive disease cases in 2018. There were 5 cases in 2017, and 5 cases in 2016. Incidence of invasive NM was stable at about 0.30 cases per 100,000 persons since 2005 (with the exception of 2008 when incidence increased to 0.57 cases per 100,000 persons); however, invasive NM incidence has decreased since 2011. The quadrivalent conjugate vaccine, MenACWY is recommended at 11- 12 years with a booster at age 16. Vaccination rates for at least 1 dose among 13-17 year old Minnesota adolescents is 78.5%; rates for the booster are lagging at 26.9% (Minnesota Immunization Information Connection, 2018 data). Meningococcal B vaccine is recommended for persons 10 years of age and older with specific risk factors. It should especially be considered for those 16-23 years of age, especially in outbreak situations.

• For up to date information see>> Meningococcal Disease

• Archive of Annual Summary of Communicable Diseases Reported to the Minnesota Department of Health
  Archive of past summaries (years prior to 2023 are available as PDFs).