Urgent announcement from the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station. Dangerous bacteria detected at popular competitions

The District Sanitary and Epidemiological Station in Kielce issued a statement on April 16 in which it addressed to people who took part in the darts tournament organized by the Kielce Dart Association in Kielce on April 11 and 13.

All participants are asked “to immediately report to a general practitioner in connection with contact with a person infected with meningococcus in order to possibly implement antibiotic therapy (the decision is up to the doctor).” A statement on this matter was also issued by, among others, district and sanitary stations in Kutno and Nowy Targ.

How can you get infected?

According to the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, meningococci are bacteria that cause dangerous infections, including: meningitis and sepsis (sepsis). According to GiS, “meningococci of groups B and C are most common in Poland. The latter are more likely to cause epidemic outbreaks.”

It added that meningococci “generally spread from person to person through close and prolonged contact with throat secretions (very close contacts).” At the same time, “they do not survive outside the human body, so you cannot get infected, for example, at a swimming pool or simply by staying in one building.” Importantly, “carrier status may last for several days, weeks or months and not cause the disease.”

How to recognize meningococcal infection?

Symptoms occurring among infants include: fever (hands and feet may be cold), loss of appetite, loud crying, irritability, head tilted back, pulsating fontanelle, drowsiness or spots on the skin. In turn, older children and adults may experience vomiting, fever, headaches, joint pain, neck stiffness, drowsiness, photophobia, convulsions, or cold hands and feet (with persistent fever).