Norway reports third meningococcal group B disease case in a few months, Called 'unusual'
Norway reports third meningococcal group B disease case in a few months, Called 'unusual'
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health reported Friday an additional meningitis group B case in the country. The latest case is a secondary school student in the city of Trondheim.
The child has been hospitalized and all close contacts are offered preventive antibiotics and vaccine as a precautionary measure.
Senior physician at the Institute of Public Health, Sara Viksmoen Watle clarified that this is a single case and not an outbreak.
Health officials say this is the third meningococcal group B disease case reported in Norway in a few months, calling it unusual as there were no cases reported among young people in Norway for the period 2016-2022.
Watle notes there is currently no connection between the three infected people, who are geographically spread across Bærum, Stavanger and now Trondheim.
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Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacteria, Neisseria meningitides. It is a rare but serious disease that causes swelling of the membranes around the spinal cord and brain. Risk factors for spread of the illness include having been coughed or sneezed on, performing mouth-mouth resuscitation, eating from the same utensils, sharing food, drinking from the same bottle or cup, kissing an infected individual, or being in a crowded space with poor ventilation for a prolonged period. Symptoms may include the onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting, rash, or confusion. Symptoms typically appear 1-10 days after exposure, but usually within 5 days.
Individuals exhibiting symptoms of meningococcal meningitis should be evaluated by a health care provider immediately.
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However, as Norwegian health officials report, there are different types of meningococcal bacteria (serogroups). The most commonly used vaccine among Norwegian youth protects against the types that have been most common in this age group (the ACWY vaccine) in this country in recent years. The ACWY vaccine does not provide protection against serogroup B meningococcal bacteria, which has been demonstrated in the present case. There is a separate vaccine that protects against only serogroup B. To be protected against all groups of the meningococcal bacteria that cause disease in Norway (A, B, C, W and Y) you must be vaccinated with both types of vaccine.