Overview
- Lageso reports a three-month-old from Marzahn-Hellersdorf died on January 24 after rapidly developing Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome.
- A related three-year-old fell ill three days later with meningitis and sepsis, and the child’s condition has since stabilized in intensive care.
- Laboratory testing identified Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in both children, confirming an epidemiologic link.
- The local health office notified relatives and other close contacts and provided antibiotic chemoprophylaxis as a precaution.
- RKI characterizes meningococcal disease in Germany as rare but severe, and STIKO recommends MenB vaccination for infants plus ACWY vaccination at ages 12–14.