Near Marseille. A case of meningitis reported in a school, the ARS reacts

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Since Monday September 30, a case ofinvasive meningococcal infection, more precisely meningitis, was reported by the Aix-en-Provence hospital center to the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Regional Health Agency (ARS).

This is a member of staff at a primary school in Aix-en-Provence, near Marseille. A series of prevention measures was triggered in the establishment.

Immediate measures

Meningococcal meningitis, which can be very dangerousis a notifiable disease. Thus, as soon as the case was reported, an epidemiological investigation was initiated in order to identify people who had close contact with the patient, in particular the children he accompanied, their classmates, as well as certain members of the staff.

All these people were immediately informed and received a preventive treatment based on antibiotics to prevent the onset of the disease.

A vaccination campaign

The bacterial strain identified in this specific case is not covered by commonly administered vaccines. In fact, ARS Paca organizes, in collaboration with several local partners (national education, maternal and child protection, health services), a vaccination campaign targeted.

This campaign begins this Friday, October 3 and is offered to the entire school, both students and staff.

A medical permanence was also set up within the school by ARS Paca in order to issue the necessary orders and answer questions from parents.

What is meningococcal meningitis?

Meningococcal meningitis is a inflammation des membranes that coat the brain and spinal cord, caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus.

These bacteria can be transmitted from one individual to another by droplets (coughs, spittle, sneezes) or by saliva.

In France, serious meningococcal infections affect around 500 people per year. The people most affected are infants, young children aged 1 to 4 and adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24.

The vaccination against serogroup C meningococcal infections is OBLIGATORY
in infants born on or after January 1, 2018 with a first dose at age 5
month. This vaccination is recommended in unvaccinated people until
the age of 24. For serogroups A, B, C, Y and W, vaccination is recommended in infants.

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