http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7311/470/b

BMJ 2001;323:470 ( 1 September )

News

Dutch consider following UK on vaccines after meningitis scare

Tony Sheldon, Utrecht

An outbreak of meningococcal disease in the south of the Netherlands, resulting in the deaths of two 11 year olds, has sparked a debate over whether the Dutch should follow the United Kingdom and Belgium in launching a national vaccination programme against group C meningococcal infection.

In the Netherlands, unlike in the United Kingdom, most (85%) meningococcal disease is caused by group B meningococcus, for which there is no vaccine. However, evidence exists of an increasing trend of cases of group C meningitis.

Acting on the advice of the national outbreak management team, the community health services in West Brabant, near the Belgian border, last week vaccinated nearly 5000 young peoplefrom infants aged under 1 year to 18 year oldsin the villages of Zevenbergen and Klundert.

The action was taken because a clear geographical cluster of five cases of the same type of group C meningococcal infection were identified. Vaccinations outside the risk area were deemed unnecessary as the risk was considered no greater than normal, a position supported by the Dutch GPs' association. But medical services have faced public pressure to vaccinate elsewhere especially in North Limburg, where another single case of group C meningitis was confirmed last week.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.