As the meningitis epidemic continues to progress in Strasbourg, the Grand Est Regional Health Agency (ARS) invites the public to watch for symptoms suggestive of the disease and to call 15 in case of doubt.
- The ARS recommends young people from Strasbourg to be vaccinated against meningitis after the death of one of them.
- To answer questions about the meningitis vaccination campaign, a toll-free number has been set up: 0 800 32 04 00.
This is the sixth case of invasive group B meningococcal infection reported in the Strasbourg conurbation since the beginning of November 2022: a 16-year-old young man who lives in Bas-Rhin had to be hospitalized, like the previous cases, announced the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of the Grand Est in a press release.
Meningococcal B meningitis can be fatal
The occurrence of this sixth case demonstrates that the epidemic, which began in a nightclub in Strasbourg and which had killed one person, is progressing. The six cases were all infected with the same strain of meningococcal B, the ARS said in its press release, which specifies that it is “of a rare and hitherto unknown strain in the Grand Est.”
Meningococci are bacteria normally present in the throat and nose that can be transmitted through the air or through saliva, and can cause very serious illnesses such as meningitis.
There are many symptoms of meningitis
The disease is most often manifested by the following signs: fever, severe headache, frequently accompanied by vomiting.
The sick person may also have impaired consciousness, a pale or even gray face color, diarrhea in addition to fever and vomiting, intolerance to light or noise, stiff neck, significant body aches , great fatigue, severe drowsiness, ocular paralysis or convulsions.
“Two symptoms should particularly alert: a poorly tolerated high fever, and/or one or more rapidly appearing red or purplish spots (purpura)”, indicates the ARS.
Vaccination is effective in preventing meningitis from developing
In addition, a person can be a healthy carrier of meningococcal B, without having symptoms and transmitting the bacteria to other people.
“Transmission occurs through direct, close and prolonged contact with a sick person or a healthy carrier.“, details the ARS, which recommends to the public frequenting the night festive places of the city center of Strasbourg as well as the professionals of these places “to be vaccinated, as soon as possible, against meningococcal B, in order to avoid the occurrence of a serious form of the disease”.