Analysis of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis surveillance in Hebei province in 2007

Objective　The study was conducted to analyze the surveillance results of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis surveillance in Hebei province in 2007. Methods　The analysis on epidemiological surveillance, laboratory surveillance and vaccination surveillance of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis in Hebei in 2007 was conducted. Results　A total of 57 cases of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis were reported in Hebei in 2007 with three death cases. The morbidity was 0.083/lakh, the mortality was 0.004/lakh, and the fatality rate was 5.26%. Compared with the numbers in 2006 (102 reported cases, 10 death cases) the morbidity decreased by 44.53%, and the mortality decreased by 69.86%. No outbreaks of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis occurred in the province. The laboratory diagnosis rate was 15.79%. Conclusion　The incidence of epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis continued to decline in 2007 with sporadic cases which mainly affected younger groups. The incidence peak was observed in winter and spring and most cases occurred among the unvaccinated. Group C, B and A were the predominate pathogens carried by healthy population, especially the age group of 5 to 24 years which had the highest bacteria bearing rates.