W135 invasive meningococcal infections imported from Sub-Saharan Africa to France, January to April 2012.

I. Parent Du Châtelet (1) , P Barboza (1) , Muhamed-Kheir Taha (2)

1 INVS - Institut de Veille Sanitaire
2 CNR - Centre National de Référence des Méningocoques et Haemophilus influenzae - National Reference Center Meningococci and Haemophilus influenzae

From January to April 2012, 16 cases of W135 invasive meningococcal infection were reported in France. Of these, eight were linked to a recent travel history to Sub-Saharan Africa. These cases were reported in France concomitantly with the meningitis epidemic season in Sub-Saharan Africa. Considering the high number of travellers between France and West-African countries belonging to the so-called meningitis belt, the French recommendations for travellers stress the importance of vaccination before travelling to these countries.

Domains: Santé publique et épidémiologie; Bacteriology

I. Parent Du Châtelet, P Barboza, Muhamed-Kheir Taha. W135 invasive meningococcal infections imported from Sub-Saharan Africa to France, January to April 2012.. Eurosurveillance, 2012, 17 (21). ⟨pasteur-02085514⟩