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. 2016 Nov 10;21(45):30392.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2016.21.45.30392.

Outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis capsular group W among scouts returning from the World Scout Jamboree, Japan, 2015

Alison Smith-Palmer  1 , Ken Oates  2 , Diana Webster  3 , Sarah Taylor  4 , Kevin J Scott  5 , Gemma Smith  6 , Benjamin Parcell  3 , Ann Lindstrand  7 , Anders Wallensten  7 , Hans Fredlund  8 , Micael Widerström  9 , Jim McMenamin  1 ; IMT and investigation team in Sweden
Collaborators, Affiliations

Outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis capsular group W among scouts returning from the World Scout Jamboree, Japan, 2015

Alison Smith-Palmer et al. Euro Surveill. .

Abstract

The 23rd World Scout Jamboree was held in Japan from 28 July to 8 August 2015 and was attended by over 33,000 scouts from 162 countries. An outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease capsular group W was investigated among participants, with four confirmed cases identified in Scotland, who were all associated with one particular scout unit, and two confirmed cases in Sweden; molecular testing showed the same strain to be responsible for illness in both countries. The report describes the public health action taken to prevent further cases and the different decisions reached with respect to how wide to extend the offer of chemoprophylaxis in the two countries; in Scotland, chemoprophylaxis was offered to the unit of 40 participants to which the four cases belonged and to other close contacts of cases, while in Sweden chemoprophylaxis was offered to all those returning from the Jamboree. The report also describes the international collaboration and communication required to investigate and manage such multinational outbreaks in a timely manner.

Keywords: Neisseria meningitidis; mass gatherings.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure
Figure
Timeline for confirmed cases of meningococcal infection among scouts returning from the World Scout Jamboree, Scotland and Sweden, 28 July to 29 August 2015 (n=6)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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