Meningococcal Carrier Studies

Abstract

THERE has been a marked increase in the incidence of meningococcal meningitis throughout the United States during the past two years. Morbidity reports indicate that the number of cases during 1942 was twice the 5 year median 1937-1941. For the first 30 weeks in 1943 its prevalence was about seven times the 5 year median 1938-1942 for the same period, and surpassed the number reported for the year 1929.14 This increase in the number of cases at a time of national military and industrial mobilization has served to focus the attention of those concerned with the investigation and prevention of epidemic disease. The mode of dissemination of cerebrospinal meningitis has been repeatedly investigated and reviewed.5-1' The importance of the meningococcal carrier has been considered in all reports, although a direct correlation of carrier percentage to case incidence has been difficult to establish.10 A carrier may be defined as an apparently healthy individual from whom the specific organism of a disease can be isolated.