Management of meningococcal outbreaks: are we using the same language? Comparison of the public health policies between high-income countries with low incidence of meningococcal disease.

Different definitions of organization and community-based outbreaks and countermeasures are expected because of uncertainties about their effectiveness, and differences between countries in health-care systems and public health policy approaches. Nevertheless, variations in terminology, definitions and countermeasures are confusing and reflect the need for an international standardization.