An 18-year-old woman died on Monday, February 3, 2025 from meningococcal meningitis in the metropolitan area of Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine). But what is this disease? ? We explain.
An 18-year-old woman died on Monday, February 3, 2025 from meningococcal meningitis in the metropolitan area of Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine). Several other cases have been reported within his family and taken care of.
What are meningococci ?
Meningococci, bacteria of the Neisseria meningitidis type, “are the major causes of acute meningitis”,explains the Pasteur Institute. They can also be responsible for septicemia, serious blood infections.
Among the 12 groups of meningococci identified, several circulate in France: B, W, Y and C. Transmission occurs through oral secretions during close and prolonged contact.
“In the vast majority of cases, contamination of a person only results in simple colonization of the nose and pharynx” with few consequences, specifies the Health Insurance.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000However, in rare cases, “the meningococcus diffuses into the blood and colonizes the meninges (the protective envelopes of the nervous system central), leading to meningitis.”
Meningitis thus corresponds to an infection “of the fluid in which the brain and spinal cord are bathed”. This disease can cause significant after-effects and can even be fatal.
In France, around 500 to 600 people develop a serious meningococcal infection each year. According to Public Health France, these infections cause around 60 deaths per year, representing a mortality rate of 10 to 12%.
The year 2023 was particularly marked by an increase in cases, with 560 people affected, an increase of 72% compared to 2022.
“The people most affected are infants, young adults aged 15 to 24 and the elderly”, notes Health Insurance.
What symptoms ?
After an incubation period of 3 to 4 days – sometimes more than ten days – the first signs appear: fever, severe headaches and vomiting. They may be accompanied by “stiff neck, lethargy, impaired consciousness, or even coma”, describes the Pasteur Institute.
The appearance of red or purple spots on the skin, called purpura, “is a criterion of the severity of the infection and a threat of septic shock, requiring antibiotic treatment and emergency hospitalization”, warns the medical foundation. Among the most frequent complications are neurological disorders, “in particular deafness”, she adds.
What treatments ?
In the event of infection, antibiotic treatment must be administered as soon as possible. Even in the absence of proven infection, people who have been in contact with a sick person “must quickly take preventive antibiotic treatment”, warns the Regional Health Agency.
Several vaccines exist in France, targeting different strains of meningococcus. Since January 1, 2025, vaccination against meningococcus B has been mandatory for all infants, according to the Vaccination info service website.
A “tetravalent ACWY vaccination has also been mandatory for all infants since January 1, 2025”, and it is recommended “for adolescents aged 11 to 14”.