Investigation of the first case of Neisseria meningitidis W135 infection in Anhui

Objective To understand the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the first case of meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meninggitidis W135 in Anhui province and the change trend of N. meninggitidis serogroups Methods The case survey was conducted. The blood sample was taken from the case and the throat swabs were taken from close contacts to conduct the culture and genotyping of the pathogens. Results The clinical symptoms of the case included fever, severe headache, convulsion, vomiting, skin petechiae and shock. The case had no meningococcal disease vaccination history and meningococcal disease case contact history. One strain of N. meninggitidis W135 was isolated from the case’s blood sample and 4 stains of N. meninggitidis W135 were isolated from the close contacts’ throat swabs. MLST analysis indicated that the strain from the case and 2 strains from close contacts belonged to ST-11. Conclusion This was the first meningococcal disease case caused by N. meninggitidis W135 (ST-11) in Anhui province.