Meningococcal disease in Scandinavia.

Scandinavia (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) comprises with mutual borders and 22.3 million inhabitants an area where the socioeconomic and cultural conditions are similar. Epidemic diseases, such as meningococcal infection, might therefore be expected to be uniformly distributed. An epidemiological study in the 10-year period 1970-9 shows, however, remarkable differences in the incidence, age, and serogroup and type distribution, as well as in the general dynamics of the disease. Three epidemics, two caused by different serotypes of group B (Norway and Iceland) and one by group A (Finland) occurred within the observation period. The annual overall incidence was generally around 3/100 000 but increased from fivefold (Finland) to eightfold (northern Norway) during epidemics. The epidemic strains caused infection in over 3000 patients and the loss of at least 250 lives. The overall case fatality rate was 8.6% (range 4.1-13.7%). Men were more susceptible and had a worse prognosis than women of the same age group. The group A epidemic in Finland was influenced by a large vaccination campaign, but this possibility was not feasible in the two other epidemics.     

Meningococcal disease in Canada: surveillance summary to 1987.

Meningococcal disease continues to occur in most parts of Canada at endemic levels, with minor fluctuations. The incidence in general has changed very little over the past three decades. It is primarily a childhood infection, occurring most commonly among infants less than 1 year of age. In 1987 the risk of infection among infants in that age group was 4 times and among those aged 1 to 4 years 2.5 times that of the general population. The most susceptible appear to be infants about 3 months of age. The annual CFRs had exceeded 50% before the antibiotic era, but with early diagnosis, modern therapy and supportive measures they have been less than 10%. A revised form for reporting cases, currently being considered by provincial epidemiologists across Canada, could help to provide more clinical and epidemiologic information.     

Mild manifestations of COVID-19 in healthcare workers

Medical staff treating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are at high risk for exposure to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and many have been infected, which may cause panic among medical workers, their relatives, health professionals, and government leaders. We report the epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of healthcare workers and that the majority of infected medical staff had milder symptoms/conditions with a better prognosis than admitted patients. Timely improvement to medical staff’s working conditions such as allowing adequate rest and providing sufficient medical protection is extremely important.     

Meningococcal meningitis in children.

Forty-four cases of meningococcal meningitis in children at one hospital between 1971 and 1975 inclusive were studied to document the course and complications of this disease in children in the current therapeutic era. The mortality was 5%. Of the 41 survivors 76% were healthy 1 to 5 years after the episode of meningitis. Permanent severe sequelae (facial palsy, optic atrophy and ptosis) were seen in three (7%) of the survivors, and mild hearing loss, hyperactivity and nervousness were noted in seven (17%). Electroencephalography was not useful in determining management or prognosis. Both the mortality and the frequency of early and late complications among the survivors were lower than those reported from earlier studies.