Complete travel group examined in hospital

Tour group investigated for suspected meningococcal in the hospital

07/31/2014

A Cologne tour group had to make an involuntary stopover on the way back from Spain because of the suspicion of meningococcal disease at the University Hospital Freiburg. Previously, one of the fellow travelers had fallen ill in Spain and the tour guide had on the return journey „Received the news that he is being treated in a hospital and is suffering from meningococcal meningitis“, so the message from the University Hospital.

The group consisting mainly of children and adolescents will head for Freiburg University Hospital on the morning of the announcement. Because „If a meningococcal case occurs in a group or family, all who have had contact with the patient must undergo antibiotic prophylaxis as soon as possible“, explained the Medical Director of the University Emergency Center, Dr. med. Hans-Joerg Busch. According to the hospital, all 57 inmates of the coach received appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis from the doctors at the emergency center.

20 teens underwent a thorough examination
The University Hospital further reports that 20 adolescents in the emergency center have undergone an in-depth neurological examination in collaboration with the Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and the Department of Neurology of the University Hospital of Freiburg. However, no suspicion of meningococcal infection was found in any of the travelers. „After two hours the journey to Cologne could be continued“, reports the hospital. Hans-Jörg Busch emphasized that „57 patients in one fell swoop not commonplace“ but the University Emergency Center „equipped for such unpredictable cases around the clock“ be.

Meningococci can cause life-threatening infections
Meningococcal infections are particularly feared because they can reach a life-threatening stage within a few hours. They are triggered by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, which cause a purulent meningitis, the so-called meningitis, reports the University Hospital Freiburg. Rarely could be a blood poisoning (sepsis) result of the infection. The bacteria in the nasopharynx are usually transmitted by the infected via droplet infection, but they can also be passed on by smear infection. The risk of infection is generally considered to be relatively high, so that in Germany corresponding check-ups and antibiotic prophylaxis are required in contact with infected people. (Fp)

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