An increase in meningococcal group B infections (MenB) was recorded by the Health Protection Agency between late December 2008 and early January of this year for England, although the annual number of cases for 2008 remains similar to previous years.
Overall the numbers of confirmed meningococcal cases remains low with only 1194 confirmed cases in 2008, lower than 2007 (1256) and continuing the overall downward trend since 1999/2000.
Dr Mary Ramsay, an immunisation expert at the Health Protection Agency, said: "Thanks to the introduction on the MenC vaccine in 1999 we've seen a decrease in cases due to this strain with only 22 cases last year, compared to 989 cases in 1999.
"However, we do not yet have a vaccine against the most common group, MenB, and we have seen a significant rise in cases in the last few weeks. It's too early to tell whether this increase will continue or if there is a single cause.”
Dr Ramsay further commented that this is a timely reminder that infection with meningococcal bacteria can cause serious diseases such as meningitis and septicaemia. Meningitis Research Foundation chief executive, Christopher Head, added that the latest figures were a reminder that meningitis and septicaemia are “a significant threat”.
