Public Health France sounds the alert. Since the beginning of the year, France has experienced a “particularly high” number of invasive infections in the méningococci, observed on Thursday, March 13, the agency, emphasizing the risk of grouped cases and emphasizing the vaccination of babies, teenagers or even young adults.
The resurgence observed in January (95 cases) “continued in February 2025 with 89 cases declared on March 7, 2025 (provisional data), a much higher level than was observed during the same period of the year during the previous seasons,” said public public health in a press release.
Of little more than two months, this represents almost 185 cases. The increase in January could be partially related to the particularly important seasonal influence epidemic, infections of influenza virus that can increase the risk of invasive meningococcal infection.
Two “groups” in Lyon and Rennes
Public Health France also alerted “the risk of space-time cases of cases (cluster)” which may be linked to the same bacterial tension. Since the beginning of the year, two episodes of grouped cases have already been identified: in Lyon, with students, in January and in Rennes, with six cases, including a mortal, in a family and then with students, between December and February.
Vaccination against type B meningococci were recommended to the students of an IUT in the first case, and a 15-24-year-old vaccination campaign, also against Meningococos B, organized in the Rennes metropolis. On Wednesday a third vaccination center opened in the Iille-Et-Vilaine prefecture in Lycée Bréquigny.
“When a certain number of cases is greater than it should, we begin these vaccination operations,” said the minister in charge of health, Yannick Neuder, who came to Rennes for the occasion in early March.
New vaccine obligations since January 1
Bacterial infections due to meningococcal can cause meningitis or sepsis, and sometimes arthritis or form with gastrointestinal symptoms. Very serious, they can lead to death in 10 to 12% of cases and the consequences in 20 to 25% of cases.
Baby vaccination but also teenagers and sometimes young adults is crucial, the health agency reaffirmed. Since January 1, the vaccination of babies against Meningococcus B and ACWY meningococcal is mandatory. Among adolescents, a dose of retirement against A, C, W and is now recommended between 11 and 14 years, with a possible capture of up to 24 years.
Since the cessation of health measures related to COVVI-19, serious infections in méningococos have experienced an unprecedented rebound in France. In 2024, 615 cases were declared, a record since 2010.
Source: BFM TV
