Transported to hospital, she unfortunately could not be saved. A seven-year-old child died after contracting an invasive meningococcal infection (IIM), the Normandy Regional Health Agency (ARS) reported in a press release on Thursday.
The case of meningitis was reported on December 17 by the Rouen University Hospital (Seine-Maritime), upon the arrival of a seven-year-old girl from Le Havre. “Despite all the efforts of the rescue teams who took care of the child, she unfortunately died,” writes the ARS.
The contagiousness of the IIM “is not significant and concerns close contacts, in the community and in the family”, underlines the health authority. A list of contact cases has been drawn up to avoid contagions and “antibiotic prophylaxis (taking antibiotics for non-sick people for prevention) has already been recommended to 15 students, two teachers and 49 people for family and friends” , according to the ARS.
500 to 600 people affected per year
“We are not worried,” the mother of one of the child contact cases at the Jean-Baptiste Massillon primary school in Le Havre told Actu, “he is doing well.” Another declared that she “trusted the medical profession” and added that “everything was under control, the management of the establishment did what was necessary”. A medical-psychological emergency unit has nevertheless been set up for students, parents or staff.
In France, “around 500 to 600 people per year are affected by a serious meningococcal infection”, recalls the Pasteur Institute. The symptoms are: high fever, headache, nausea and vomiting or even a stiff neck. “Despite treatment, meningococcal infections have a high mortality rate (10%),” notes the research center, “the best prevention is vaccination. »
ARS Normandy declares that it will continue to monitor the situation on site “with the greatest attention”.
