The little girl died at Rouen hospital after a case of meningococcal infection was reported to the Regional Health Agency on Tuesday, December 17.
A 7-year-old girl, attending school in Le Havre, died following an invasive meningococcal infection, the Normandy Regional Health Agency (ARS) announced this Thursday, December 19.
“Despite all the efforts of the rescue teams who took care of the child, she unfortunately died at the Rouen University Hospital,” writes the ARS in its press release.
This case of meningitis was reported this Tuesday by the hospital center.
As soon as the diagnosis was made, antibiotics were recommended to 15 students and two teachers that the child met at the Jean-Baptiste Massillon primary school, as well as to 49 people from his family and friends.
An open medico-psychological emergency cell
“It is estimated that there is a risk of transmission for people who have been directly and prolonged exposed to the nasopharyngeal secretions of the sick person in the ten days preceding the onset of meningitis,” details the ARS.
This bacterial disease, transmitted by coughing but not very contagious, causes headaches, nausea, high fever and stiff neck.
A medical-psychological emergency unit is also mobilized to best support students, staff and families, specifies the Agency.
In 2023, the incidence of invasive meningococcal infections saw a sharp increase with a number of cases reported without precedent for 10 years, according to a bulletin from Public health France published in April. In this case, 560 cases were detected, an increase of 72% compared to the previous year.
