After several cases of meningitis in recent weeks in the Rennes sector, the health authorities of Ille-Et-Vilaine are trying to stop the circulation of the disease. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) in Brittany announced this Friday, February 28, the launch of a Méningococcus B vaccination campaign for young people aged 15 to 25 on Friday, February 28 in Rennes Métropole.
“In France, there was an increase in cases of invasive meningococcal infections (IIM) of which those linked to the serogroup B during the 2024-2025 season with a particularly high number of cases in January 2025” and the Rennes metropolis “particularly concerned” about this situation, the Ars in a press release emphasizes.
Méningococci is a family of bacteria that causes very dangerous and contagious meningitis, mainly in children and adolescents. Meningococcus meningitis is manifested in particular by a strong fever and a rigid neck and kills a patient in a lightning manner if they are not ordered. And, when they are, mortality remains 10%, not to mention frequent sequels: amputation, cognitive disorders, deafness …
Two cases of cases in Rennes
Since the cessation of health measures related to COVID, meningococcal meningitis has experienced a rebound in France. “There was a significant resurgence of invasive infections in Méningococci during the 2024-2025 season with an exceptionally high number of cases in January 2025 (90 cases, non-consolidated data),” said Health’s public France at the end of February.
Among them, three cases of invasive infection with Meningococcus type B “together” were identified with the Rennes Business School in December and February, and three others were declared at the end of January in a family in the Rennes metropolis, according to Ars Brittany.
“The survey by Ars Brittany and Public Health France has not made it possible to find an epidemiological link between the two cases of cases. This suggests a circulation of this tension in the territory of Rennes Métropole,” explains the agency responsible locally by the application of public health policy.
100,000 young people called vaccination
Given this situation, the health authorities have decided to propose vaccination against Meningococcus B to populations particularly at risk in the territory, that is, the students of the Rennes and Youth Business School from 15 to 24 years, inhabitants or schooling or students in Rennes Métropole, which represents “about 100,000 people.”
This vaccination campaign will begin this Monday at the Rennes School of Business campus on Monday and from Thursday for other interested young people, “among liberal health professionals and in vaccination centers that will be deployed in sites near the main university centers.”
In France, vaccination against Meningococcus B and ACWY meningococcus has been mandatory for babies since January 1, 2025. In adolescents, a dose of retirement against meningococci, against strains A, C, W E Y, is now recommended between 11 and 14 years, even if they have received this vaccine at the young age. Throughout the year 2024, France registered 615 cases of invasive infections of meningococcus, registration level since 2010.
Source: BFM TV
