Coverage for meningococcal disease in the Norwegian morbidity and mortality statistics. With reference to incidence and fatality trends.

The case coverage for meningococcal (MC) disease in the old notification system (ending 1974) in Norway was estimated at 52%. In contrast, an estimate for the new system (MSIS) is 76%. The latter is considered to verify the 72% found earlier. Adjustments for coverage resulted in a 160% increase in incidence from 1967-73 to 1974-79, whereas the unadjusted figure was 246%. A new estimate of MC death registration coverage is 78%, which verifies the 82% found earlier. Case fatality ratios in the two periods are 10.9% and 10.5% when adjusted, compared with 17.1% and 12.4% when unadjusted. Coverage estimates seem relatively stable, but if they were to be put under surveillance with the help of a sampling scheme, broader application and more appropriate confidence levels might be obtained for routine data.