Characteristics of serogroup A Neisseria meningitidis strains isolated in the Central African Republic in February 1992.

A severe epidemic of serogroup A meningococcus meningitis occurred in the northwest Central African Republic from January to March 1992. Strains from 24 patients were characterized using serotyping, testing of susceptibility to antibiotics, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. In 23 of the 24 patients the causal strain was found to be 4:P1.9/clone III-1. These results indicate that such strains continue to spread in Africa and have taken hold in areas outside the "meningitis belt." This may be a consequence of changing climatic conditions.