Life-threatening meningitis Visitors to the Berlin Club should definitely visit a doctor

Meningitis: Party guests of Berlin KitKatClub could have been infected

A visitor to the "KitKatClub" in Berlin probably got infected with bacterial meningitis there. Therefore, the guests of the club are now urged to contact a doctor and get a preventive treatment. The disease can be life threatening.

Authority calls for preventive treatment

As reported by the district office Reinickendorf in a message, there was on Saturday, the 29.09.2018, "according to current knowledge, the transmission of bacterial meningitis (meningococcal meningitis) in KitKatClub" in Berlin-Mitte. "All persons who were in the KitKatClub on Saturday should have immediate preventative treatment," warns the authorities. "Please contact your family doctor, your family doctor or the emergency department of a hospital immediately."

In a Berlin techno club there was apparently a transmission of a life-threatening meningitis. Visitors to the club are now asked to seek preventive medical attention. (Image: DWP / fotolia.com)

Transmission mostly by droplet infection

It has been reported that the meningococci belong to one of the groups A, C, Y, W135.

Meningococci are bacteria that settle in the nasopharyngeal space of humans, where they are detectable in about ten percent of the population without any signs of clinical symptoms, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

They are most commonly transmitted by droplet infection. The bacteria are released into the air when speaking, coughing or sneezing in small droplets from the nasopharynx and can be inhaled from a short distance.

In addition, the pathogens can be transmitted even in close contact with patients as a smear infection, for example, by touching the nasal secretion. Outside the body, the bacteria die quickly.

Infection often leads to blood poisoning or meningitis

According to health experts, two forms of meningococcal disease can occur individually or together.

About one third of meningococcal cases lead to sepsis. In two thirds of the infections there is a meningitis (meningitis).

"The incubation period is usually 3 to 4 days, but it can also be between 2 and 10 days," says the RKI.

"Those affected are contagious up to 7 days before the onset of the disease signs. Patients are no longer infectious 24 hours after the start of an effective antibiotic therapy, "explains the Federal Center for Health Education (BZgA) on its portal" infektionsschutz.de ".

In case of suspected infection immediately to the hospital

According to the experts, sufferers have to go to hospital immediately if they suspect a meningococcal infection.

"The infection is treated with antibiotics. Patients are isolated 24 hours after starting antibiotic therapy to protect others from transmission, "writes the BZgA.

Symptoms that indicate the serious illness include severe headache, high fever, chills, dizziness, neck stiffness, and extreme malaise.

"Within a few hours, a severe, life-threatening disease can develop," said the district office Reinickendorf.

Preventive vaccination

Vaccines are available against all five serogroups found in Germany - A, B, C, W135 and Y. The Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends vaccination against meningococcal C from the age of twelve months.

In addition, STIKO recommends a vaccination against serogroup B for persons with impaired immune function or close contact with meningococcal patients. A general recommendation is currently pending.

In the states of Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, as well as in Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Brandenburg, Thuringia and Bavaria, the meningococcal B vaccine is publicly recommended.

More than 60 percent of the health insurances now reimburse the costs on request. Vaccination against the comparatively rare serogroups A, W135 or Y is recommended for health hazards or when traveling in risk areas. (Ad)