A patient in his thirties died in Brittany in early August following a meningitis type C. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) local prefers not to reveal more details about the patient, but takes the opportunity to recall the importance of vaccination to fight against this infection. Indeed, since 2012, Finistère has been facing a hyperendemic situation of infections with meningococcus C, due to the installation in the territory of a virulent strain. In total, two deaths were reported in 2012, two others in 2013 and one death, the present case, in 2014.
“Invasive meningococcal infections are transmissible infections with a sudden onset which most often manifest themselves in the form of meningitis or meningococcemia. 10% of cases on average progress to death, according to national statistics”, indicates ARS Bretagne. . The Agency recalls that the vaccine remains the most effective protection against meningococcal C.
Insufficient vaccination rate
In Finistère, two centers are accessible to the public for completely free vaccinations:
– In Brest, regional university hospital centre, La Cavale Blanche site, by appointment 02 98 14 50 39
– In Quimper, hospital center, by appointment 02 98 52 65 16
The vaccination campaign set up at the end of 2012 made it possible to increase the vaccination coverage rate for 1-24 year olds, which rose from 21% in 2012 to 48% in 2014. “This rate, although currently much higher than the rest of France, remains insufficient, especially among young people over the age of 15”, concludes ARS Bretagne.
