Bold reality check: invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) remains a serious, die-hard public health concern across Europe, with nearly 1,900 confirmed cases and 200 deaths in 2023. In EU/EEA countries, 30 jurisdictions reported these figures, and three nations—France, Germany, and Spain—together accounted for more than half (57%) of all confirmed IMD cases that year.
The overall notification rate reached 0.4 cases per 100,000 population in 2023, marking the highest level observed since 2020. Looking at age groups, the youngest children bear the greatest burden: infants under one year show the highest notification rates, followed closely by children aged 1–4 years, and then young adults aged 15–24 years.
Serogroup B continues to be the predominant cause of IMD. Among cases with known serogroups, B represented 57% and was the leading serogroup in every age group below 65 years. Notably, the incidence of Serogroup B has been rising since 2021. Serogroup Y ranks second overall, accounting for about 20% of cases with known serogroups, and is especially common in people aged 65 and older. Serogroup W follows as the third most reported serogroup.
These trends underscore the ongoing importance of robust IMD surveillance and the regular assessment of immunisation programs. Such evaluation helps decision-makers tailor vaccination strategies across the entire lifespan, ensuring approaches stay effective as populations and pathogen dynamics evolve.
Potential discussion points: 1) Should vaccination strategies prioritize serogroup B more aggressively given its dominance and rising trajectory? 2) How can countries with older age skews in serogroup Y be nudged to maintain or expand protection for seniors? 3) What surveillance enhancements would most quickly identify shifts in serogroup prevalence, enabling faster policy responses?
