[Epidemiology of meningococcal infections in military communities within the catchment area of the Military Medicine Institute in Plzen 1994-1995].

The authors submit information on the epidemiological position as regards the prevalence of invasive meningococcal diseases in military communities on roughly half the territory of the Czech Republic in 1994-1995. For illustration of the clinical picture the authors present brief case-histories focused on the development of the different diseases before admission to hospital. The authors submit results of examination of carriership of Neisseria meningitidis in military communities focused on the serological group C. Analysis of the epidemiological position and surveillance of meningococcal infections conducted by the National Reference Laboratory for meningococcal infections in the National Institute of Public Health and facilities of the military hygiene and epidemiological service in 1993-1995 were the basis for joint sessions which culminated by the decision to start vaccination of Czech Army conscripts, starting in July 1995. This procedure was approved by the Chief Hygiene Officer of the Czech Republic and it was recommended to continue monitoring of carriership in vaccinated groups of conscripts.