France - Meningitis outbreak 2025

[Mary Wilson]

France boosts meningitis vaccinations to fight rise in deadly infections

France has expanded its vaccination programme against meningococcal disease from 1 January in response to a rise in cases, particularly among children and teenagers who are more vulnerable to severe forms of meningitis.

Issued on: 01/01/2025 - 16:03
By: RFI

... From January to November 2024, more than 500 cases of meningococcal disease were reported in France, the highest in over two decades and slightly up from 2023. ...

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20250101-france-boosts-meningitis-vaccinations-to-fight-rise-in-deadly-infections

[sharon sanders]

Please see previous thread:

France: 2024 Meningitis

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Translation Google

Rennes: several cases of meningococcal meningitis detected, an 18-year-old girl has died

Ille-et-Vilaine
From Loïck Guellec
Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 7:55 p.m.
By Ici Armorica , Ici

The alert was launched on Friday, January 31. Several cases of meningococcal meningitis have been reported in the same family, in Rennes and Chantepie. The ARS, the Regional Health Agency, thus confirms information from the daily newspaper Ouest-France . An 18-year-old girl has died, two others are hospitalized at the Rennes University Hospital and are improving , a third is under surveillance.

Many contact cases

Around forty people, contact cases, have been identified by the ARS . They have all benefited from prophylactic antibiotic treatment to prevent the development of the infection. The Regional Health Agency recalls the main signs of meningococcal meningitis: fever, intense and persistent headaches, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, red or purplish spots on the skin, muscle and joint pain in particular. " In the event of symptoms, it is essential to consult a doctor urgently or call 15 ," insists the ARS.

https://www.francebleu.fr/infos/sante-sciences/rennes-plusieurs-cas-de-meningite-a-meningocoque-un-patient-est-decede-4747612

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One death, contact cases: what we know about the cases of meningococcal B meningitis detected in Ille-et-Vilaine

Margaux de Frouville with Sophie Cazaux
Yesterday at 3:58 p.m.

Several cases of meningococcal B meningitis have been detected in a family in Ille-et-Vilaine in recent days. An 18-year-old woman died on Monday from this infection.

An 18-year-old woman from the Rennes region (Ille-et-Vilaine) died on Monday February 3 from meningococcal B meningitis, according to information from Ouest-France , confirmed by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) to BFMTV on Wednesday February 5.

The ARS Bretagne, responsible locally for the application of public health policy, has recorded in recent days grouped cases of this infection with a high mortality rate. Here is what we know about this situation.

• Clustered cases within a family

Since January 31, ARS Bretagne "has been managing a situation of grouped cases of meningococcus B meningitis in a family in Ille-et-Vilaine (Rennes and Chantepie)," it told BFMTV. Around forty people have been identified as contact cases and have received antibiotic treatment, the ARS adds. Anyone who has spent more than an hour within one meter of the person carrying meningococcus is defined as a contact case.

Within this home, an 18-year-old woman died of this disease. Two people are "still hospitalized at the Rennes University Hospital with improving conditions", and one patient is "under surveillance", the agency specifies.

According to our information, the young woman who died was not the initial case, she was a contact case. After presenting the symptoms of a classic flu syndrome , her illness developed rapidly.

• Transmission by direct contact

According to the Pasteur Institute , which specializes in infectious diseases, "meningitis is an infection of the spinal cord and the envelopes surrounding the brain, the meninges, caused by several types of viruses, bacteria, and fungi." Meningococci are bacteria that are the major causes of acute meningitis.

The bacteria is transmitted by air or saliva, particularly by coughing and spitting, explains the ARS Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on its website . This transmission occurs through direct, close (less than one meter) and prolonged contact with a sick person or with a healthy carrier. Beyond the symptoms, the diagnosis is made following a lumbar puncture.

• Fever, stiff neck...

The main signs of meningococcal meningitis are as follows, according to ARS Bretagne: high fever, intense and persistent headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, discomfort in bright light, confusion, drowsiness, appearance of red or purplish spots on the skin, muscle and joint pain.

Meningococcal infections are treated with antibiotics "as quickly as possible", according to the Pasteur Institute. Antibiotic treatment is also recommended for the close entourage of infected people to prevent contagion. The disease can also be prevented by vaccination for certain types of meningococcus. Since January 1, the meningococcal B vaccine has been mandatory for all infants, with a first injection at the age of 3 months, a second injection at the age of 5 months, and a booster at the age of 12 months.

"Newborns and young children are the people most at risk of developing the disease," says the Pasteur Institute. In France, around 500 to 600 people per year are affected by a serious meningococcal infection (meningitis but also septicemia), according to the same source. The mortality rate from bacterial meningitis is 10%, according to the institute.

In the event of symptoms, the health authorities therefore recommend consulting a doctor urgently or calling 15.

Margaux de Frouville with Sophie Cazaux

https://www.bfmtv.com/sante/un-mort-cas-contacts-ce-que-l-on-sait-des-cas-de-meningite-a-meningocoque-b-detectes-en-ille-et-vilaine_AV-202502050612.html

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Translation Google

Meningitis Cluster in Rennes: After the Death of a Young Woman, Two People Still Hospitalized


Jerome Gicquel
Published on 02/11/2025 at 3:08 p.m.• Updated on 02/11/2025 at 3:08 p.m.

Health authorities are still monitoring the situation closely. At the end of January, a cluster of meningococcal meningitis was detected in a family from Rennes, causing the death of an 18-year-old woman on February 3. Two other people in her entourage had also been hospitalized after being infected with this rare disease that can cause death within a few hours, especially in children and adolescents.

A week later, the two patients are still in hospital where "their state of health is improving", we learned from the Regional Health Agency (ARS) of Brittany. After the discovery of these cases, an epidemiological study identified around forty at-risk contacts in the entourage of this family and antibiotic treatment was offered to them. "To date, no new contacts have been identified", specifies the ARS.

Another death of a teenager in Narbonne

Two days after the death of the young woman from Rennes, a 17-year-old boy also died of fulminating meningitis on February 5 near Narbonne, but there was no link between the two victims.

Meningitis is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. In most cases, it is viral, but can also be of bacterial origin: this is the case with meningococcal meningitis. Transmission occurs from person to person through close and prolonged contact.

https://www.20minutes.fr/sante/4138243-20250211-cluster-meningite-rennes-apres-mort-jeune-femme-deux-personnes-toujours-hospitalisees

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Translation Google
Invasive meningococcal infections in France as of January 31, 2025


Published on February 19, 2025
Updated on February 19, 2025
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Key points

• A significant resurgence of invasive meningococcal infections (IMI) was observed during the 2024-2025 season with an exceptionally high number of cases in January 2025 (90 cases, unconsolidated data). For the whole of 2024, 615 cases of IMI were reported in France, corresponding to the highest annual number of cases since 2010.
• The number of cases reported and occurring in January 2025 is equivalent to that observed at the peak reached in December 2022 in the context of a post-COVID-19 pandemic rebound and a marked influenza epidemic associated with the significant circulation of other respiratory viruses (Sars-CoV-2 and RSV).
• The increase in IMI in January 2025 may be partly related to the particularly large influenza epidemic during the 2024–2025 season. Indeed, it has been shown that influenza virus infections can increase the risk of invasive meningococcal disease.
• Comparison of the characteristics of IIM cases occurring during the months of December-January in the 2022-2023 and 2024-2025 seasons shows similar characteristics in terms of age and serogroup. IIMs related to serogroup B remain the most frequent, followed by IIM W and IIM Y. IIM W and Y have increased sharply in recent years compared to the incidence recorded before the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The most recent data demonstrate the severity of IIMs and their transmission potential:
  • The risk of IIM is high in infants in the first months of life, but many cases are also seen in adolescents and adults.
  • 50 deaths were reported between July 2024 and January 2025, representing an overall lethality of 13.7%. The lethality of IIM W remains particularly high: it was 19.8% compared to 12.5% for IIM B and 10.4% for IIM Y.
  • In January 2025, 13 deaths occurred, mainly among adults including young adults, which demonstrates the severity of these infections.
  • Two clusters of IIM B cases were identified in January: three cases of IIM B among students in Lyon, and three cases of IIM B in the same family in Ille-et-Vilaine. These clusters of cases have given rise to measures aimed at preventing the risk of IIM in the populations concerned.
• The rapid reporting of cases to the Regional Health Agencies, and the sending of biological samples to the National Reference Centre for Meningococcus and Haemophilus Influenzae, is essential to maintain reactive surveillance and identify any spatio-temporal clustering of cases early.

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https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/maladies-et-traumatismes/maladies-a-prevention-vaccinale/infections-invasives-a-meningocoque/documents/bulletin-national2/infections-invasives-a-meningocoque-en-france-au-31-janvier-2025

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Translation Google

Circulation of meningococcus B in Rennes metropolitan area: authorities launch a vaccination campaign for young people aged 15 to 24

Press release
February 28, 2025



In France, a resurgence of cases of invasive meningococcal infections (IMI), including those linked to serogroup B, was observed during the 2024-2025 season with a particularly high number of cases in January 2025.

The territory of Rennes Métropole is particularly concerned by this situation. Indeed, since December 2024, the ARS of Brittany has intervened around several situations of invasive meningococcal type B infections in Ille-et-Vilaine, in particular by taking charge of detected cases and contact persons. The investigations carried out led to the identification of 2 groups of cases:

1. In December 2024 and February 2025, 3 cases of invasive meningococcal type B infection linked to the higher education establishment of Rennes School of Business (RSB).
2. At the end of January 2025, a situation of 3 cases of invasive meningococcal type B infection reported within a family in the Rennes metropolitan area.

Genomic analysis of the strains of bacteria responsible for these cases of IIM, by the National Reference Center for Meningococcus (CNR) at the Pasteur Institute, revealed an infection by a single strain of the bacteria.

The investigation conducted by ARS Bretagne and Santé publique France did not find any epidemiological link between the two groups of cases. This suggests a circulation of this strain in the territory of Rennes Métropole.

This situation is characterized by a higher than usual number of cases of infections in this territory. In order to protect the most exposed population from serious forms, the authorities are launching in the coming days a large-scale vaccination operation against meningococcus B for young people aged 15 to 24 who live or are in school or studying in the territory of Rennes Métropole.

A large-scale vaccination campaign: 100,000 people concerned

In light of this observation, a national expert unit met on February 26, 2025, bringing together the ARS Bretagne, the Rennes University Hospital, the CNR, Santé publique France (SpF) and the Directorate General of Health. At the end, and following the recommendations in force in this area, the health authorities decided to offer vaccination against meningococcus B to the population particularly at risk, namely students at the "Rennes School of Business" and young people aged 15 to 24, residents or schoolchildren or students in Rennes Métropole, i.e. a total of around 100,000 people.

Vaccination in practice

Since several IIM cases are related to the Rennes School of Business, a specific organization will be put in place from next week to vaccinate students and professionals of this higher education establishment on their premises as a priority . This is to avoid the occurrence of new infections in the school.

The rest of the public concerned will be able to be vaccinated directly by independent healthcare professionals: doctors, midwives, nurses and pharmacists.

ARS Bretagne will also deploy a collective vaccination offer on sites near the main university centers.

The deployment of this vaccination campaign will start:

1. Monday March 3 for students of the Rennes School of Business.
   • From Thursday March 6, 2025, among independent healthcare professionals and in vaccination centers which will be deployed on sites near the main university centers.

As soon as the school reopens on Monday March 3, the Minister for Health and Access to Healthcare, Yannick Neuder, will visit the site in Rennes.

Vaccination will be spread over several consecutive weeks in order to allow the entire target population to access vaccination.

...

https://www.bretagne.ars.sante.fr/circulation-du-meningocoque-b-sur-rennes-metropole-les-autorites-lancent-une-campagne-de

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Translation Google
Invasive meningococcal infections: high number of cases in January and February 2025

The beginning of the 2024/2025 year is marked by a particularly high number of cases of invasive meningococcal infections. Public Health France is publishing the number of reported cases as of March 7, 2025, and reiterating the importance of the recommended vaccination for infants, as well as adolescents and young adults for certain serogroups.

Published on March 13, 2025
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Invasive meningococcal infections (IMI) are bacterial infections caused by meningococcus. They can cause meningitis or septicemia. Other clinical forms are also described, such as arthritis or forms with gastrointestinal symptoms. These are very serious infections that can lead to death in 10 to 12% of cases and to sequelae in 20 to 25% of cases.

Public Health France has warned of the resurgence of IMD cases observed in January 2025 (95 cases reported as of March 7, 2025) in the context of the influenza epidemic.
This resurgence continued in February 2025 with 89 cases reported as of March 7, 2025 (provisional data), a level well above what was observed for the same period of the year during previous seasons.

Number of cases of invasive meningococcal infections by month and by season (January and February 2025: unconsolidated data, cases reported as of March 7, 2025)

In this context, Public Health France is warning of the risk of spatio-temporal clustering of cases (Cluster) that could be linked to the circulation of clonal strains. Two clusters of IIM B have already been identified since the beginning of the year:

• among students in Lyon in January 2025. Vaccination against IIM B has been recommended to students at an IUT.
• in Rennes between December 2024 and February 2025 with 6 cases caused by the same bacterial strain with two separate situations (a family and students) without any link between them. A vaccination campaign against IIM B is organized by the Regional Health Agency of Brittany to vaccinate young people aged 15 to 24, living or in school or studying or working in the territory of Rennes Métropole.

These situations highlight the potential for transmission and virulence of IIM B. Rapid detection of spatio-temporal clusters of cases allows targeted vaccination actions to be implemented.

On the other hand, IIMs linked to serogroups W and Y have been increasing since 2022 and have justified new vaccination recommendations since January 1, 2025, targeting infants and adolescents, as well as catch-up vaccination up to 24 years of age.

The 2024 IIM monitoring report will be published in the second quarter of 2025.

Reminder of meningococcal vaccination recommendations

Infants: Since January 1, 2025, vaccination of all infants against meningococcus B and ACWY meningococcus is mandatory.
Adolescents: Vaccination against meningococcal ACWY is recommended between the ages of 11 and 14, with catch-up vaccination up to the age of 24. This catch-up vaccination is essential to directly protect young adults and also serves the purpose of collective protection by reducing transmission in the population.

1. Learn more at vaccination-info-service.fr

https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/les-actualites/2025/infections-invasives-a-meningocoque-un-nombre-de-cas-eleve-en-janvier-et-fevrier-2025

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-in/health/hea...es/ar-AA1AYUNL

France urges meningitis vaccination amid warning of 'particularly high' number of cases
Story by Lauren Chadwick
• 9h

France is facing a "particularly high" number of meningococcal infections this year, with the country's public health agency urging infants, adolescents, and young adults to get vaccinated to prevent the serious and sometimes deadly illness.

Meningococcal infections are caused by bacteria and can lead to meningitis – an infection of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord – and to sepsis.

There were 95 cases of the disease in January and 89 cases in February, Public Health France said, adding that this was "well above" what had been observed in previous years.

The agency noted there were two clusters of meningococcal group B bacteria, which is the most common, among students at a university in Lyon and among a family and students in Rennes...

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Translation Google

Resurgence of invasive meningococcal infections: new recommendations on catch-up vaccination

Press release - Published on March 18, 2025

March 18, 2025 After the start of 2025 marked by a particularly significant increase in invasive meningococcal infections, the Ministry of Health has referred the matter to the High Authority for Health (HAS) regarding catch-up vaccination against meningococcus B and ACWY in children born before the introduction of compulsory vaccination on 1 ^January 2025. In addition to the recommendations published in March 2024, which are more relevant than ever, the HAS proposes to include in the vaccination schedule the extension of compulsory vaccination against meningococcus ACWY in infants up to 2 years of age, as well as for meningococcus B. It also recommends, on a transitional basis, the implementation of catch-up vaccination targeting, on the one hand, children up to 3 years of age against ACWY serogroups and, on the other hand, children aged 2 to 5 years against serogroup B. It stresses the need to update vaccination against ACWY serogroups without delay. ACWY serogroups in adolescents and young adults up to 25 years of age thanks to a large vaccination campaign carried out over two years.

Invasive meningococcal infections are serious transmissible infections, which can quickly become fatal despite treatment due to their fulminating nature. Surveillance data show an upsurge in cases since 2023 (560 cases), confirmed in 2024 (615 cases) and early 2025, with a particularly high level for the months of January and February 2025 (95 cases and 89 cases). A major influenza epidemic during the winter of 2024-2025 partly contributed to this increase in cases. In this context, the Ministry of Health has asked the HAS to examine in particular the advisability of catching up on vaccination against meningococcus B and ACWY in children born before the introduction of compulsory vaccination on January 1, ²⁰²⁵ .

The HAS relied on the latest epidemiological, efficacy, and vaccination coverage data. It took into account in particular the marked decrease in the incidence of serogroups B in children after 5 years, serogroups W after 3 years, and serogroups Y after 2 years. It also considered the latest data for 15-25 year-olds confirming that, after children under 5 years, this age group is particularly affected, particularly by meningococcus B. Finally, it highlights the continued increase in serogroups W and Y in the French population since 2019 and the high lethality of W (20% deaths in 2024). Thus:

• Regarding vaccination against ACWY serogroups:
  • The HAS recommends extending the mandatory ACWY vaccination for infants up to 2 years of age, which is already in force for serogroup B. This measure also concerns infants aged 1 to 2 years who have already received a complete vaccination (two injections) against meningococcus C. Aligning it with the age of 2 years regardless of the serogroup, ACWY or B, will also simplify the vaccination schedule.
  • The HAS temporarily recommends a catch-up vaccination targeting children up to 3 years of age who have not been vaccinated against the ACWY serogroup .
  • In adolescents and young adults , it calls for the ACWY vaccination currently recommended for adolescents aged 11 to 14 to be effective. This vaccination is likely to protect them throughout the at-risk period from 15 to 24 years , due to the extended duration of this protection (at least ten years). It also recalls the need to implement catch-up vaccination for 15- and 24-year-olds who have not yet been vaccinated, in the form of an organized campaign (over two years) in order to quickly achieve high vaccination coverage . This measure is indeed crucial, not only to protect this population, but also to induce collective protection.
• Regarding serogroup B:
  • In infants and young children, for whom vaccination is already mandatory up to the age of 2, it temporarily recommends catch-up vaccination up to the age of 5 in children who have not been vaccinated against serogroup B.

The HAS reiterates its recommendation to make effective the reimbursement of vaccination against serogroup B for 15 to 24 year olds wishing to be vaccinated. It still does not recommend, at this stage, like most countries, extending this vaccination to all adolescents and young adults due to the short duration of this protection (three to five years), the need to administer two injections and the lack of efficacy of the vaccine to confer indirect collective protection to unvaccinated populations. If vaccination is carried out in adolescents, it is recommended to do it from the age of 15 .

Summary table of HAS recommendations

* New recommendations


The HAS recommendations concerning the anti-meningococcal vaccination strategy will be updated based on developments in the epidemiological situation, scientific knowledge and marketing authorisations for meningococcal vaccines.



https://www.has-sante.fr/jcms/p_3597...apage-vaccinal

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Translation Google

World Meningitis Day: Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare announces intensification of meningococcal vaccination strategy

published on 04/24/25

Press releases Yannick Neuder Press releases and press kits Health prevention Health Population health

On the occasion of World Meningitis Day, Yannick Neuder, Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare, announces an intensification of the vaccination strategy to better protect children and young people in the face of a resurgence of invasive meningococcal infections.

According to the latest epidemiological bulletin from Public Health France published today , in 2024, 616 cases of invasive meningococcal infection (IMI) were reported (+10% compared to 2023), the highest annual number of cases since 2010, confirming the resurgence of invasive meningococcal infections (IMI) observed since 2022. This increase could be explained in particular by a particularly intense flu epidemic this season, favoring serious infections. The same bulletin indicates that 69 deaths due to meningococcal infections were recorded in 2024.

A strengthened vaccination strategy to better protect populations most exposed to meningitis

Invasive meningococcal infections progress very rapidly and require emergency treatment. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent invasive meningococcal infections.

After the start of 2025 marked by a particularly significant increase in invasive meningococcal infections, the Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare, after consulting the opinion of the High Authority for Health, announces an intensification of the vaccination strategy to better protect the populations most exposed to meningitis, with:

– The extension of the ACWY and B vaccination obligation for all infants up to the age of 2 (including those who have already been vaccinated against meningococcus C);
– A catch-up ACWY and B vaccination recommended on a transitional basis for young children , up to the age of 4 years (5th birthday);
– The strengthening of vaccination of adolescents and young adults, with:

• The deployment of vaccination of adolescents aged 11 to 14 against ACWY, particularly as part of the national vaccination campaign in secondary schools which will be launched at the start of the 2025 school year, combined with that against papillomaviruses;
• The implementation of a catch-up vaccination against meningococcus ACWY and B for young people aged 15 to 24 , by community professionals (doctors, pharmacists, midwives and nurses).

Objectives: inform, vaccinate, protect

This development aims to protect the age groups most at risk and respond to the resurgence of invasive meningococcal infections , responsible for particularly severe forms of the disease.

An awareness campaign will be rolled out in the coming weeks, targeting families, health professionals and young people, to support the implementation of this reinforced vaccination strategy.

Next steps

• Implementation of ACWY and B catch-up vaccinations for children aged 2 and over and for young adults aged 15 to 24 by community professionals (doctors, pharmacists, midwives and nurses).
• Close monitoring of the epidemiological situation and continuous adaptation of the strategy in conjunction with scientific authorities.

“Strengthening our meningococcal vaccination strategy is a priority to protect the health of all citizens, especially the most vulnerable. By expanding access to vaccines and raising awareness, we are taking a decisive step in the fight against this devastating disease. Together, we can save lives and ensure a safer future for our children and young people.”

Yannick Neuder, Minister of Health and Access to Healthcare.

---

Press contact:
Cabinet Yannick Neuder : sec.presse.sas@sante.gouv.fr

https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites/presse/communiques-de-presse/article/journee-mondiale-de-lutte-contre-la-meningite-le-ministre-de-la-sante-et-de-l

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Meningococcal meningitis: two young people aged 16 and 19 admitted to intensive care at Rennes University Hospital

by AS
Published yesterday at 5:56 p.m.
Source: 8 p.m. News Week

-Two cases of invasive meningococcal B infection were reported to the ARS this week in Ille-et-Vilaine.
-On Monday, April 28, a 16-year-old was admitted to intensive care at Rennes University Hospital, before another 19-year-old two days later.


New serious infections in the Ille-et-Vilaine department. Nearly three months after the death of an 18-year-old woman suffering from meningitis in Rennes , the city's university hospital this week admitted two new young patients in a very serious condition and suffering from the same infection.

According to information provided by the Brittany Regional Health Agency (ARS) this Wednesday, two new cases of invasive meningococcal B infections have been recorded in the department in recent days. "A 16-year-old was admitted to intensive care at Rennes University Hospital on Monday, April 28, and another was admitted to the same department on Wednesday, April 30 ," it said in a press release. "The ARS Brittany teams are working to identify contacts in order to take all necessary measures , " it added.

64,152 people vaccinated in the Rennes metropolitan area

At the beginning of March, the ARS Bretagne launched a vaccination campaign against meningococcus B aimed at young people aged 15 to 24, residents or schoolchildren or students in Rennes Métropole, a total of around 100,000 people. "The vaccination campaign is continuing, to allow as many people as possible to have a complete vaccination schedule, that is to say two injections at least one month apart. To date, 64,152 people have received at least one dose of vaccine ," the ARS emphasizes.

Since April 2, 2025, vaccination against meningococcus B is covered in all regions and for all 15-24 year-olds (65% by health insurance, 35% by supplementary health insurance).

An alert from Public Health France in mid-March

In mid-March, Public Health France announced that the country had experienced a "particularly high" number of invasive meningococcal infections since the beginning of 2025. It warned of the risk of cluster cases and urged the vaccination of infants, adolescents, and even young adults.

Public Health France had also warned of "the risk of spatio-temporal clustering of cases" that could be linked to the same bacterial strain. Since the beginning of the year, two episodes of clustered cases have already been identified: in Lyon, among students, in January, and in Rennes, with six cases - including one fatal case, that of the 18-year-old woman - in a family and then among students, between December and February.

https://www.tf1info.fr/sante/meningite-a-meningocoques-deux-jeunes-de-16-et-19-ans-admis-en-reanimation-au-chu-de-rennes-2368127.html

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Meningococcus B in the Rennes Métropole area: provision of a Frequently Asked Questions section

News
April 30, 2025



Do you have questions about meningococcus B, the vaccination campaign, etc.? ARS Brittany has provided a Frequently Asked Questions section.

Check out our frequently asked questions:

Questions about the situation in Rennes Métropole

1. How many cases are there in total in the Rennes Métropole area?

Since the beginning of 2025 and as of February 26, 2025, 17 cases have already been recorded, including 11 in Ille-et-Vilaine. In addition, among the cases occurring in the Rennes Métropole area, 6 cases are affected by the same strain.

This situation therefore places the territory of Rennes Métropole in a hyperendemic situation, meaning that it presents a lasting increase in the incidence for a given serogroup compared to the incidence usually observed in a geographical area.

2. When did the first cases linked to the same strain appear?

1. Since December 2024, 3 cases of invasive meningococcal B infections have been reported in connection with the Rennes School of Business (RSB) higher education establishment.
2. At the end of January 2025, 3 cases of invasive meningococcal type B infections were reported in a family in the Rennes metropolitan area.

To date, these cases are aged between 15 and 24 years .

3. Were there any deaths?

One person has died. Invasive meningococcal infections are serious infections .

4. Why haven't we heard about it before?

Cases of invasive meningococcal infections (IMI) are subject to ongoing epidemiological surveillance by Public Health France as part of the surveillance of so-called "notifiable" diseases by health professionals.

The reporting of a case of IIM by a healthcare professional systematically gives rise to epidemiological and microbiological investigations by the ARS, Public Health France and the National Reference Center for Meningococcus and Haemophilus Influenzae (CNR) at the Pasteur Institute.

Genomic analysis by the CNR of the strains of bacteria responsible for the cases of IIM in Rennes Métropole reveals an infection by a single strain . The investigation conducted by the ARS Bretagne and Santé publique France did not find any epidemiological link between the different cases, probably implying circulation and installation of this strain in this territory .

As soon as an abnormal increase in the number of cases linked to the same strain is detected in a given area, a health alert is triggered, leading to the implementation of actions (raising awareness among health professionals and the general public) by the health authorities. This is what is currently happening in the Rennes Métropole area.

5. Is the number of cases likely to increase?

As mentioned above, cases of invasive meningococcal infections are subject to ongoing epidemiological surveillance. As with any communicable disease with transmission between individuals through close contact, there is a risk of the disease spreading.

Cases may continue to appear, due to the presence of the bacteria in the throats of people without symptoms (asymptomatic carriers), and the bacteria continues to be transmitted between individuals. Although it is not entirely clear why, some people will develop the disease and others will not.

6. What health measures have already been taken?

As soon as a case of invasive meningococcal infection occurs, close contacts (contact within one meter, face to face, for at least one hour) of family, friends, and professionals are identified. They are offered preventive antibiotic treatment to prevent transmission of the disease.

7. Is my doctor aware of the existence of an abnormally high number of cases of invasive meningococcal infections in Rennes Métropole?

The ARS has informed all health professionals and health establishments in the Rennes Métropole area of this situation.

8. Why is the situation of the Rennes School of Business (RSB) being discussed?

Several cases have been linked to the Rennes School of Business, suggesting that the bacteria is circulating. A dedicated vaccination campaign is therefore being organized for students and professionals at this institution. Students and professionals have been informed of this.

9. If I don't attend Rennes School of Business, do I need to get vaccinated?

YES if I am between 15 and 24 years old and I live or attend school, study or work in the Rennes Métropole area.
The Rennes Métropole area has been classified as hyperendemic. In response to this finding, health authorities are offering meningococcus B vaccination to the particularly affected population, namely all young people aged 15 to 24, residents, schoolchildren, students, or workers in Rennes Métropole, a total of 100,000 people.

...

https://www.bretagne.ars.sante.fr/meningocoque-b-sur-le-territoire-de-rennes-metropole-mise-disposition-dune-foire-aux-questions