Prime Highlights:
France is experiencing a significant increase in meningococcal infections, with 95 cases in January and 89 in February, well above usual levels.
Public Health France urges infants, adolescents, and young adults to get vaccinated to prevent serious and sometimes deadly meningitis and sepsis.
Key Background:
France is experiencing an unusually high number of meningococcal infections this year, prompting public health authorities to intensify vaccination efforts. Public Health France has issued an urgent call for infants, adolescents, and young adults to receive vaccinations to protect against meningitis, a potentially fatal infection.
Meningococcal infections, caused by bacteria, can lead to serious conditions such as meningitis—an infection of the brain and spinal cord membranes—and sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection. According to Public Health France, there were 95 confirmed cases in January and 89 in February, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.
The agency also identified two notable clusters of meningococcal group B bacteria: one at a university in Lyon and another involving a family and students in Rennes. These incidents underline the heightened risk of the disease, particularly among young people in communal settings.
In response, vaccination campaigns have been rolled out, particularly targeting young people. Last year, France reported 615 meningococcal infections, the highest number since 2010, which may be linked to the severe flu season. Influenza can elevate the risk of developing meningitis.
Since the beginning of 2025, France has made vaccination against meningitis B, as well as serogroups A, C, W, and Y, mandatory for infants. Additionally, the vaccine for ACWY serogroups is recommended for adolescents aged 11 to 14, with a booster dose suggested up to the age of 24.
Meningitis symptoms include fever, headache, and stiff neck, while meningococcal sepsis can cause fever, rash, and septic shock. Public Health France emphasizes that vaccines remain the most effective preventive measure against the infection, which can progress rapidly and result in fatalities in 8 to 15% of cases.
