The sad case happened at the end of March. In the Czech Republic, a nineteen-month-old boy died of an infection with Neisseria meningitidis group B bacteria. One in ten infected people succumbs to the disease, and although it is less common in the Czech Republic than before, we should not underestimate meningococcus. Vaccinations for children and adolescents are covered by the insurance company.
As Zuzana Okonji, head of the National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcal Infections of the State Health Institute, told iDnes, the child who succumbed to the disease was not vaccinated against meningococcal disease. Okonji added that vaccination against the disease has been available in the Czech Republic since 2014. “Vaccination is optional, but vaccines against other groups of meningococcus are fully covered by the health insurance company for the smallest children and adolescents.” she added.
Experts expect an increase in the number of diseases caused by meningococcal after the covid subsides. In 2019, there were 56 infected in the Czech Republic, 16 last year and six this year. Doctors recorded one death each last year and this year. It is estimated that about ten percent of those infected die from infection with invasive meningococcus bacteria, while a third remain with consequences such as amputations or deafness. Vaccination in the Czech Republic protects about half of children under two years of age and a third of teenagers.
Young children or teenagers are most often infected. According to former Minister of Health and vaccinologist Roman Prymula, the disease does not manifest itself specifically, but resembles a common respiratory infection. “The biggest danger is the time factor,” Prymula said at Sanofi’s World Meningitis Day press conference. A high fever and restlessness should be a signal for parents. A rash or photophobia is also a symptom. “Within a few hours, we may have trouble saving the child,” added the vaccinologist.
Tags: Meningococcus killed oneyearold child Czech Republic March
