The background to this is severe meningococcal disease in gay men: Three cases occurred in Paris in June 2013, one in Berlin in October 2012, two in February and two in May 2013, and one in Belgium in March. At least 22 men have fallen ill in New York in the last three years, and four in Los Angeles since December 2012 (aidshilfe.de reported). Around a third of the men who contracted the disease died as a result of the infection.
In view of the low number of cases, experts do not speak of a Epidemicbut advise increased vigilance. Since December 2012, the New York Health Department has been recommending that gay men with sexual partners in New York protect themselves against Meningitis to be vaccinated.
The German authorities are currently discussing how to proceed. A meningitis vaccination recommendation currently applies to
- all children from the age of two (the recommendation has been in place since 2006, those who are adults today were not vaccinated in childhood)
- Persons with acquired immunodeficiencies (HIV is not explicitly mentioned, but should be included in the recommendation)
- People in the vicinity of (regional) outbreaks on the recommendation of the health authorities
- Travellers to countries with many cases of meningitis (Africa, Asia)
- Contact persons of infected persons. This includes sexual partners, household members and anyone who had close contact with the infected person in the days before the infection. In addition, the contact persons receive precautionary (prophylactic) antibiotic treatment.
A meningitis vaccination can be obtained from doctors for around 50 euros. HIV-positive people receive it free of charge.
The German AIDS-Help has created a document with the most important questions and answers, which you can download here. download here can.
Source/further informationn
Vaccination recommendation on the website of the French High Council of Public Health from 01/07/2013 (in French language)
Message on aidshilfe.de from 28.06.2013
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| 2013-07-08 Meningococcus in MSM.pdf | 224.17 KB |
