2024-04-10 13:04:33
In 2023, the incidence of invasive meningococcal infections was high, according to a Public Health France bulletin published Tuesday April 9. Meningococci are a family of bacteria that cause very dangerous and contagious meningitis, mainly in children and adolescents.
In 2023, 560 cases of invasive meningococcal infections were reported, an increase of 72% compared to 2022 and a level unprecedented in ten years. This post-Covid-19 resurgence might be explained by the decline in immunity in the population, less exposed to meningococci during the pandemic, but also by the return of respiratory viruses (in particular influenza), which can promote infections invasive bacterial infections, notes Public Health France.
The incidence was highest among children under 1 year of age (56 cases, or 8.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants). It was also high among young adults aged 15 to 24 (101 cases, or 1.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants).
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HAS recommendations
The main meningococci are separated into large families: A, B, C, W and Y. For a long time, B and C remained in the majority. This is still the case for B. On the other hand, family C has become marginal, clearly behind Y and W, the latter being particularly murderous. Among the 560 cases declared in 2023, the serogroup was characterized for 535 cases: 240 cases of serogroup B (44%), 160 cases of serogroup W (29.4%), 130 cases of serogroup Y (23.9%). , 5 cases of serogroup C (0.9%).
These data contributed to the work of the High Authority for Health (HAS) on the revision of the vaccination strategy once morest meningococci, according to Public Health France. Currently, only meningococcal B and C vaccinations are recommended for children under 1 year of age.
Following the recommendations of the HAS, the government should soon announce an expansion of vaccination. For infants, vaccination once morest all strains (A, B, C, W and Y) will be compulsory. For adolescents, a booster dose once morest A, C, W and Y will be recommended between 11 and 14 years of age.
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