Five reports in a few weeks. Since the beginning of November, several cases of meningococcal B infection have been detected in Alsace. One person died. The last case detected to date was reported this Friday, according to the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Grand Est.
“The report of this new case demonstrates that this rare strain of meningococcus B, hitherto unknown in Grand Est, continues to circulate,” specifies the ARS.
Meningococcus B is a bacterium. Frequently located at the level of the throat and nose, it does not imply, in most cases, a particular disease. In some cases, however, it can develop into an invasive infection, meningitis.
Fever and red spots
The first signs to take into account in the event of the appearance of meningitis are, first of all, high fever and the appearance of red and purplish subcutaneous spots, according to the ARS Grand Est.
Affected patients may also develop severe headaches, abnormal sensitivity to light, accompanied by body aches, fatigue, stiff neck, abdominal pain, and nausea or even vomiting.
Mainly airborne
The disease is transmittable through air and saliva, generally in case of direct, close and prolonged contact with a person carrying the bacteria. Among the cases of meningitis developed in Alsace, four out of five cases refer precisely to young people who have frequented the same nightclub, a favorable scenario for the spread of the bacteria.
Namely: it is possible to be a carrier of meningitis without developing symptoms. In this case, you can still pass the bacteria on to another person who may develop symptoms.
In case of doubt, the ARS recommends calling the emergency room by dialing 15. As of December 14, 93 people have been preventively vaccinated in Strasbourg against the bacteria.
Source: BFM TV
