Community outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in southwest France – December 2008 to September 2009

E Delisle; S Larrieu; J Simões; N Laylle; M De Pommerol; M K Taha; J L Termignon; I Parent du Châtelet

doi:10.2807/ese.15.37.19665-en

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Community outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in southwest France – December 2008 to September 2009

E Delisle^1,2, S Larrieu¹, J Simões³, N Laylle³, M De Pommerol¹, M K Taha⁴, J L Termignon⁵, I Parent du Châtelet⁶
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Affiliations: ¹ Branch of the Institut de Veille Sanitaire in the Région Aquitaine (InVS, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance), Bordeaux, France ² Programme de Formation à l'Epidémiologie de Terrain (PROFET, French Training Program in Field Epidemiology), Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance), Saint-Maurice, France ³ Health District Office, Mont-de-Marsan, France ⁴ National Reference Centre for Meningococci, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France ⁵ French Agency of Health, Ministry of Health, Paris, France ⁶ Department of Infectious Diseases, Institut de Veille Sanitaire (InVS, French Institute for Public Health Surveillance), Saint-Maurice, France

Correspondence:
E Delisle
elsa.delisle ars.sante.fr
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Citation style for this article: Delisle E, Larrieu S, Simões J, Laylle N, De Pommerol M, Taha M K, Termignon J L, Parent du Châtelet I. Community outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in southwest France – December 2008 to September 2009. Euro Surveill. 2010;15(37):pii=19665. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.15.37.19665-en Received: 03 Mar 2010

Abstract

Between December 2008 and September 2009, 11 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) group B were reported in a 20 km diameter area in the Département Landes, France. Two of them presented with purpura fulminans and one of them died. The strain responsible for this community outbreak was of the clonal complex ST-269.The incidence rate for IMD group B was 3 per 100,000 inhabitants in Landes from week 40 in 2008 to week 40 in 2009; it was the highest in France during that period. The number of cases observed was significantly higher than expected, especially in young adults (standardised incidence ratio: 23.5, p<0.001). A nightclub located in the 20 km diameter area was a possible place of transmission and a prophylaxis recommended for the staff members helped in decreasing the transmission. However, several cases notified later suggested that the bacteria circulated during several months through healthy carriers in the community. This situation prompted increased surveillance of IMD in Landes and medical practitioners were asked to remain vigilant because of the possible emergence of new cases within the following months. .