Probable meningococcal meningitis kills three in Nice, France
Three young men with all symptoms of meningitis died this weekend in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), said Tuesday the Regional Agency of Health . “We can consider that these three cases of meningitis,” said Marie-Claude Dumont, medical adviser to the director of the ARS in the PACA region. In addition, two teens are reportedly in serious condition, according to a Le Parisien report (computer translated).
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The victims from Nice were brothers ages 20 and 30, as well as a brother in law.
“We are not at the beginning of an epidemic, but the situation is worrying,” one unnamed source told French media. It is extremely rare that this strain of meningitis, although very dangerous, causes so many deaths at once.
Local health authorities told Le Parisien other family members who came into prolonged contact with the victims are currently undergoing an intensive, precautionary treatment against the disease.
An autopsy has yet to clarify the typing this meningitis, “probably meningococcal C”, for which a vaccine exists.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial form of meningitis, a seriousinfection of the meninges that affects the brain membrane. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated.
Several different bacteria can cause meningitis. Neisseria meningitidis is the one with the potential to cause large epidemics. Twelve serogroups of N. meningitidis have been identified, six of which (A, B, C, W135, X and Y) can cause epidemics. Geographic distribution and epidemic potential differ according to serogroup.
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