Outbreak of Neisseria meningitidis C in a Brazilian oil refinery involving an adjacent community.

Background: An outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease (MD) that involved employees from an oil refinery occurred in Paulínia, from March to June 2010, and spread to the community of Cosmópolis, both situated in São Paulo State, Brazil. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological and laboratory aspects, and the control measures that were implemented.

Methods: Descriptive and molecular epidemiological analysis was used to define the extent of the outbreak and the common risk factors among outbreak related cases.