Everything you need to know about meningitis, a public health problem

Manipulation researchers in the Department of Invasive Bacterial Infections under the direction of Mohamed-Kheir Taha of the Pasteur Institute. Photo: Institut Pasteur/François Hardy.

“Prevention through vaccination is the only way to combat bacterial meningitis”Mohamed-Kheir Taha from the Pasteur Institute poses, “Especially because their diagnosis is complex and their evolution is rapid. » Among the 11 mandatory vaccinations set for infants today, three of the four most common bacterial meningitis in children are covered.

“The example of meningococcal C vaccination clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of mandatory vaccination in improving population coverage. The meningococcal C vaccine was introduced and recommended in France in 2010 as part of a generalized prevention strategy, i.e. for all children aged one year, with catch-up until age 24.” – continues Professor Joël Gaudelus (University of Paris XIII, former head of the department of pediatrics at the Jean-Verdier University Hospital in Bondy), who spoke at a conference organized on October 3, 2019 at the Ministry of Health. “In 2010, the vaccination strategy did not work, coverage among 16-24 year olds was too low – about 35%. In the Netherlands, where 97% of adolescents are vaccinated, the meningococcal C vaccine has proven effective! This is the vaccination obligation, which came into force on 1^uh January 2018 in France, which reduced the incidence of this type of meningitis. » (read our article Vaccines: Insurance for the Life of Humanity).

At the end of September 2019, judging by epidemiological data from the beginning of the year, in France there was only one case of meningococcal meningitis C in children under one year of age: a child aged 2 months, not yet vaccinated. This figure was confirmed by Mohamed-Kheir Taha, head of the National Reference Center of the Pasteur Institute, the center responsible for assessing the strains isolated in France and their sensitivity to antibiotics. The CNR is also actively involved in the development of vaccination strategies against invasive meningococcal diseases in France.

Magali Gegan, assistant deputy director for public health and chronic disease prevention at the ministry responsible for public health, recalls the problem of understanding the benefits of vaccination, a problem that appears to have been resolved since the introduction of mandatory vaccination, according to a recent poll (see “French majority for vaccination” – Ipsos). Addressing the associations “Little Anji – Ensemble against Meningitis” and “Meningitis of France – Audrey Association”, on October 3, 2019, Magali Gegan emphasized: “Thank you for their (your) continued support, especially in implementing mandatory vaccinations for children and infants. »

A vaccine against meningitis B (80% of meningococcal meningitis in young children) is also available. This is not (yet) recommended, but the Higher Health Authority will begin work to study the possibility of recommending this vaccine in France. In the United Kingdom, this vaccine has already controlled this type of meningitis.