Aim: To describe an outbreak of serogroup B
neisseria meningitidis
occurred in Trinidad during 1998.
Methods: Epidemiological survey was conducted following the identification of the fist case in El Socorroi Trinidat.
Results: Thirteen other cases were detected with the majority found among the <5 age group which accounted for 42.9%, followed by the 45-64 age group with 14.3%. Mortality was 57.1%, highest among the <5 age group accounting for 50% followed by the 25-44 and 45-64 age groups with 25%, respectively. Two distinct clusters of
N. meningitidis cases were identified using GPS/GIS systems which graphically demonstrated the link between the two clusters.
Conclusion: The implications of these results are discussed with respect to surveillance systems.
