Two 16 and 18 -year -old young people were hospitalized in Rennes in serious condition by meningococcal meningitis, an infection that causes high mortality and a great risk of consequences. Since the beginning of the year, the cases have multiplied, pushing the authorities accelerate vaccination.
Two hospitalized young people
Two 16 and 18 -year -old children were hospitalized in resuscitation at the Hospital of Rennes University after having contracted meningitis in Méningococci, said the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in Brittany in a press release.
“The sequencing of the strains of these two cases of invasive infections with the meningococcal B serogroup B will be carried out by the National Reference Center of the Pasteur Institute,” specifies the ARS.
The 16 -year -old has been hospitalized since Monday, April 28. According to our information, he participated in a party on Saturday. Therefore, the urgency for health authorities is to identify any contact case, people who have passed at least one hour less than one meter of patients during the three or four days prior to the appearance of symptoms.
On Friday, 18, he has been hospitalized since Wednesday, April 30. It is unknown at this stage if it frequented the same night as the other person.
In addition, according to our information, one of the two hospitalized young people rejected vaccination against the meningococci released in March in Rennes after the death of an 18 -year -old woman.
A potentially serious infection
Meningococci are bacteria that constitute the main causes of acute meningitis, a severe infection of the spinal cord and the envelopes surrounding the brain.
“The mortality rate for bacterial meningitis is 10%” and “one in five people can have lasting consequences,” said the Pasteur Institute.
The bacterium is transmitted by air or saliva, particularly by cough and postilions, explains Ars Auverne-Rhône-Alpes In its place. This transmission is done by direct contact, close (less than one meter) and prolonged with a sick person or a healthy carrier. Beyond the symptoms, the diagnosis is made after lumbar puncture.
HE Main signs of meningococcal meningitis They are the following: High fever, intense and persistent headaches, rigid neck, nausea and vomiting, discomfort in bright light, confusion, drowsiness, appearance of red or purple spots on the skin, muscle and joint pain.
HE Meningococcal infections Treat “as quickly as possible”, according to the Pasteur Institute. Antibiotic treatment is also recommended for those close to infected people to prevent contagios.
Extended vaccination to stop the outbreak of cases
According to the latest public health figures, France, more than 600 cases of meningococcal infections have already been identified since the beginning of the year, an unprecedented level since 2010.
To stop this increase, vaccination against meningococci, already extended since January, will go further. The Minister of Health, Yannick Neuder, decided to “intensify the vaccination strategy to better protect the populations most exposed to meningitis,” the ministry summed up in a statement published on Thursday, April 24.
The increase had already been sensitive for several years, which had led the health authorities to expand vaccination to respond to the increase in new strains: A, and W, the latter being particularly deadly. They almost supplanted Meningococcus C, which was pointed uniquely by a vaccine. However, strain B – objective of another vaccine – remains the most widespread.
Since January, babies less than the year had to receive a vaccine aimed at A, C, W E Y, and not only C. It will now be mandatory for every two years, as is the case of vaccine B.
The Ministry also establishes a capture for babies that have not been vaccinated in due time. Every five years in question will have to receive vaccines ACWY and B. already recommended in children from 11 to 14 years, an ACWY retreat will lead to a campaign in universities, along with that in force against Papillomavirus (HPV).
Finally, a capture, B and ACWY campaign will go to 15-24-year-old youth who are not up to date with their vaccines, in the model of what was recently in Rennes after the death of a young patient.
Source: BFM TV
