India
Past outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in SEA Region - a brief overview
By World Health Organization
May 12, 2005, 17:12

Meningococcal disease is endemic in Delhi and sporadic cases of meningococcal meningitis have been occurring in Delhi in previous years. In addition, outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis in and around Delhi, India have been documented during 1966 and 1985. During 1966, 616 cases of meningitis were reported with case-fatality rate of 20.9%. The highest proportion of cases and deaths occurred in age group less than 1 year followed by that in 1-4 years. The male to female ratio was almost 3:1. Because of non-availability of reagents, grouping of N.meningitides could not be performed.

The outbreak in 1985 was bigger in magnitude, both in terms of cases and the geographical area affected. 6133 cases with 799 deaths (13%) were reported. The male to female ratio of cases was 3:1. All the isolates of N. meningitides belonged to subgroup A.

Isolated cases of meningococcal meningitis during 1985 were also reported from several other parts of India namely Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Kerala and Orissa.

In 1985 Bhutan was also hit by meningitis and 247 cases with 41 deaths were reported between September 1985 and March 1986. During 1982-1984 1475 cases occurred in Kathmandu valley, Nepal with highest mortality and morbidity in children less than one year of age.

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