THE EU and European Economic Area (EAA) general population is at very low risk of invasive meningococcal disease related to the recent outbreak in Kent, England, UK, due to a very small probability of exposure and infection, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported on Wednesday.
The ECDC warned, however, that control measures should be initiated immediately if a case linked to the outbreak in England is detected in the EU/EEA, to identify close contacts and administer antibiotics and vaccinations.
This follows UKHSA reports of 20 cases of invasive meningococcal disease, of whom two died, in the Canterbury area last week.
France has reported one case of invasive meningococcal disease possibly linked to the outbreak.
Negligible Probability of Exposure and Infection
The ECDC reported that there is a negligible probability of exposure and infection in the general population in the EU/EEA.
Whilst unvaccinated and exposed individuals face a moderate risk of contracting meningitis, the ECDC noted that if more than the incubation period of 10 days have passed from the date of exposure, the risk of developing the disease becomes very low.
The European health authority encouraged contacts of cases to engage with targeted control measures: preventative antibiotics and MenB vaccination.
Warnings for Healthcare Professionals
It also warned that clinicians should be aware of the possibility of meningitis in returning travellers.
The ECDC recommended that travel history is included in assessments of invasive meningococcal disease – particularly regarding travelling to the Kent region.
Healthcare workers in EU/EEA countries manging suspected or confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease have been urged by the ECDC to follow required infection prevention and control protocols.
Continued surveillance, including molecular surveillance and antibiotic susceptibility testing, has been encouraged to support outbreak control.
ECDC is in contact with national authorities in the UK and EU/EEA in relation to the outbreak and is monitoring the situation through event-based and integrated epidemiological and genomic surveillance, performing regular evaluations.
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