Who is at risk for meningococcal meningitis?
In the past, the attack rate of meningococcal disease was highest among children 6 to 36 months of age. Lately, however, the risk appears to be shifting toward older children and adolescents, with a rising number of outbreaks in schools, universities, and other organization-based settings, according to the American College Health Association (ACHA). In fact, over half of the outbreaks from 1992 to 1996 occurred in schools, colleges, universities, and similar settings. Also at increased risk for meningococcal disease are travelers to certain hyperemdemic or epidemic countries (such as part of Sub-Saharan Africa), people with certain immune deficiencies, and household or institutional contacts of infected individuals.
