This document summarizes changes in invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that overall IMD cases decreased during the first pandemic period (PP) in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the largest declines in children ages 1-4 and 5-9. However, IMD cases increased again after restrictions eased. The decrease in IMD cases during increased restrictions correlates with decreased mobility based on Google mobility indices.

1. National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci
and Haemophilus influenzae
Changes in the epidemiology of invasive
meningococcal diseases during the COVID-19
pandemic in Germany
Manuel Krone, Thiên-Trí Lâm, Heike Claus, Ulrich Vogel

2. The year 2020
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Source: https://www.giantmicrobes.com/, Private Pictures

3. IMD numbers 2009 - 2021
Calendar week
IMD
cases
10 20 30 40 50
0
200
400
600
800
1000
Data Source: SurvStat@RKI
prePP PP
0
20
40
60
80
100
NRZMHi
coverage
[in
%]

4. Changes in IMD epidemiology
prePP PP
0
100
200
300
400
IMD
cases
typed
at
NRZMHi
B
C
W
Y
E
NG
prePP PP
0
100
200
300
400
IMD
cases
typed
at
NRZMHi
<1
1-4
5-9
10-14
15-24
25-44
45-64
65+
a) b)

5. IMD cases and mobility
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
200
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
202008 202018 202028 202038 202048 202106 202116 202126 202136
Google
mobility
index
Number
of
IMD
cases
Calendar week
Reported numbers Average number of cases 2009-2019
Retail and Recreation Grocery and Pharmacy
Parks Transit stations
Workplaces
Data Source: Google Mobility index