Epidemiological features of Meningococcal infection in Tbilisi

Abstract

Aim of the study was to identify of epidemiological features of meningococcal infection in Tbilisi in two reporting periods (1992-1999yy and 2017-2021yy). In 1992-1999, the incidence rate reached its maximum in 1993 (2.3 per 100,000 population), and in 2017-2021 it did not exceed one. In the second reporting period in 2020, the maximum rate was recorded in the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic (0.36), which should be due to the prolonged interaction of children with healthy carriers. The age index in both reporting periods is for children aged 0-4 and was 21.4 and 8.81, respectively. Seasonality occurs in winter-spring in the second reference period, although in the first reference period it occurs at all times of the year, which can be explained by the failure of preventive measures in the 90s. The rate of lethality in the first reporting period is almost three times less than in the second reporting period, which may be the reason for not registering deaths in the 90s. We consider it appropriate to introduce vaccination in risk groups.