Meningitis case in primary school: 7-year-old girl dies from infection

A 7-year-old girl died in Rouen hospital after contracting meningitis, this Thursday, December 19, 2024.

“Despite all the efforts of the rescue teams who took care of the child, she unfortunately died at the Rouen University Hospital”, declared the Regional Health Agency (ARS) in a press release, quoted by BFM in particular.

A 7-year-old girl, educated in Le Havre, at the Jean-Baptiste Massillon primary school to be precise, died from an invasive meningococcal infection, this Thursday, December 19, 2024.

More than 60 contact cases

This case of meningitis was reported on Tuesday by the hospital center. More than 60 people are contact cases and are being monitored by the health authority, underlines France bleu.

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A medical-psychological emergency unit has also been set up to support students, school staff and families.

“Antibiotic prophylaxis (taking antibiotics for people who are not sick as a preventative measure) has already been recommended to 15 students, 2 teachers and 49 people for the family and friends circle”, underlined the ARS Normandie, taken up by the public service radio.

Antibiotics are recommended as soon as possible, at most 10 days after the last case of contact with the infected person.

Fever, headaches, stiff neck…

Meningitis combines an infectious syndrome (fever, severe headaches, vomiting) and a meningeal syndrome (stiff neck, lethargy, impaired consciousness, or even coma), explains the Pasteur Institute.

The best prevention is vaccination. Newborns and young children are at greatest risk of developing the disease. Meningococcal infections affect 500,000 people per year worldwide, according to the WHO.

Rebound in infections

In France, around 500 to 600 people per year are affected by a serious meningococcal infection. While the number of meningococcal infections fell during the Covid period, a significant “post-Covid” rebound was observed in 2022-2023 (421 cases between January and September 2023), notes the Pasteur Institute.

As of January 1, 2025, newborns will have to be vaccinated against meningococcus ACWY and meningococcus B. Currently, only vaccination against meningococcus C has been mandatory for newborns since 2018, and recommended for children and young adults up to 24 years of age in the absence of infection during childhood.