The Sverdlovsk Region’s Health Ministry reported an increase in the number of Ozon workers in Yekaterinburg hospitalized with meningococcal infection to eight. This information was confirmed by TASS.
The patients admitted to hospital are described as stable and in good condition.
On June 6 reports indicated two fatalities linked to meningococcal infection in the city. Initial statements noted that one of seven infected workers at the ozone sorting center had died. Colleagues who shared a hostel with him were subsequently hospitalized. The cause of the second death remained under investigation.
Meningococcus is a bacterium that can reside in the nasopharynx and, in some cases, trigger meningitis which carries a mortality rate of 20-22% depending on disease severity.
Meningococci vary in impact from mild discomfort to severe disease. Carriers without symptoms comprise about 5-10% of the population, and in close living conditions such as barracks and hostels, carriage can rise to 50-80%. Transmission occurs through droplets and close contact facilitates spread.
“Infection requires close contact, the easiest way to contract meningococcus is through kissing. Handshakes are unlikely to transmit the bacterium unless the person has recently contaminated their hands,” explained a leading researcher from the center socialbites.ca, Doctor of Medical Sciences Natalya Kostyukova. She has dedicated her career to studying this infection.
The incidence of meningococcal meningitis among children in the first two years of life is relatively high, reaching ten per 100,000 people. This is largely due to waning maternal antibodies. In most adult cases, meningococcal transmission does not progress to meningitis.
“Too big” epidemic for Russia
“Ten cases represent a significant outbreak for Russia and could have serious consequences, as there has been no meningococcal epidemic in the country since 1996. Earlier outbreaks include the large surge in 1968 that reached China via travelers and took years to control,” Kostyukova notes.
Experts emphasize that this outbreak calls for urgent measures, including rapid analysis of the causative strain to determine its genetic lineage and any antibiotic resistance. Understanding the strain helps guide treatment and containment strategies.
According to Alexander Gintsburg, head of the Gamaleya Center, individuals who may be exposed to meningococcus should be treated with antibiotics early. “There is concern about the antibiotic resistance of strains isolated from patients,” he says. “Those who have been infected and died were not vaccinated, and contacts who become carriers are at risk. They must receive antibiotics promptly, but the choice depends on knowing the strain sensitivity.”
Is it worth getting vaccinated?
Regarding vaccination, Kostyukova explains that vaccines target specific strains, so it is essential to identify the circulating strain before vaccination. “We only have our own meningococcal A vaccine, which covers the most dangerous strain, but not others,” she notes. There is also a MenACWY vaccine effective against four serogroups. A newer vaccine for a recently identified X strain exists but is not licensed in the country.
Experts caution against blanket vaccination. “Vaccination alone, without considering the specific strain, may not provide protection,” says Pavel Volchkov, an immunologist and head of the Genomic Engineering Laboratory at MIPT. He adds that vaccination is a preventive step, and if a person is exposed to a high dose from a carrier, the vaccine may not prevent illness. Therefore, even recently vaccinated individuals should remain cautious.
Volchkov also notes that meningococcal vaccination is not included in the standard pediatric calendar in Russia, which means there is no broad population immunity to this infection. Still, some people may already have antibodies from prior exposure in the natural environment.
The head of the Gamaleya Center, Günzburg, also discusses preventive measures. He suggests that an outbreak could have been mitigated with a National Serum Bank, a proposal long advocated by experts. Since meningococcus circulates within the human population, antibodies against it need to be built up. Antibody testing could warn doctors 2-3 months in advance and enable preventive vaccination during an outbreak.