Vaccinations have started in Marseille, ARS rules out the risk of an epidemic

• Sixteen cases of pneumococci were detected at a Marseille shipyard, including one case in intensive care.
• Hygiene measures and a vaccination campaign were launched this Monday morning.
• The ARS rules out any risk of epidemic, the pneumococcus being very little contagious.

Vaccinations started on Monday morning. A pneumococcal epidemic has been detected in Marseille, on a ship repair yard. 16 cases were confirmed this Monday morning by the Regional Health Agency (ARS), from the Provence Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, which rules out any risk of "epidemic". 20 Minutes takes stock of this pneumococcal infection.

What is this pneumococcal infection?

The ARS Paca was made aware by the Marseille University Hospital Institute (IHU) of pneumococcal infection of workers on a Marseille shipyard. "16 cases have been confirmed, one of which is still in intensive care," said Professor Philippe Malfait of Public Health France, during a press briefing organized this Monday within the ARS. The first was detected on January 9, the last case dates back to January 31. "They have all been treated and vaccinated," said Laurence Pascale, an epidemiologist in charge of investigations into this infection. The average age of those infected is 42 years. Pneumococcus is a bacterium which is transmitted from human to human by secretions, during close and fairly long contact, of at least one hour. "It cannot be transmitted by water or by air". "This disease can be severe if it is not detected early, but it is not exceptional", according to Philippe Malfait.

What actions have been taken?

A vaccination campaign for 4,000 workers started this Monday morning, "on a voluntary basis", explains Christiane Brunel, a doctor with the ARS. ARS teams, Marseille hospitals, and firefighters will take turns at the shipyard from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Tuesday evening. The cost of vaccinations will be borne by the owner. This campaign is in addition to “barrier measures, with the distribution of 3,000 masks and hydroalcoholic gels”. The bacterium is only very little contagious, there is no need for quarantine.

[Live 📸]
Missioned by the ARS, in collaboration with the APHM, 5 pairs of doctors and nurses #MarinsPompiers from #Marseille vaccinate workers at the shipyard in the port of Marseille against pneumococcal pneumonia. pic.twitter.com/KUaBcLf5ox

Are the vaccines effective?

The strain of this pneumococcus has not yet been isolated. "Transmission to laboratories was delayed due to the Coronavirus, which explains why the study of the strain was slightly delayed. But the two themes are dealt with in parallel within the ARS, ”assures Christiane Bruel. It should not be known until the weekend, while workers of 13 different nationalities must leave on Friday by boat. But the vaccine which will be administered to workers "covers a large number of strains, there is an 80 to 90% chance that it will be effective with an immunity which is done in 10 to 15 days". If the first case was detected on January 9, the alert to the ARS was not transmitted until "January 28", she says because it is not a "reportable disease".

Is there a risk of an epidemic?

The ARS rules out "any risk of epidemic" of pneumococcus. “Pneumococcus is a very fragile bacterium which is not easy to catch. You would have to stay at least an hour with the person and be beaten on it. If a person came to the shipyard, he would have as little risk of catching a pneumococcus as when you take the metro or you make the sales ”, wanted to reassure Christiane Bruel.

This Monday, the mayor of Marseille, @jcgaudin inaugurated the "Form 10" of the Grand Maritime Port of Marseille, the largest Mediterranean port repair platform for the largest boats in the world.🛳️⚒️ pic.twitter.com/HTKxv7WviF

How did this pneumococcal bacteria appear?

The infected people all work on the Norwegian Cruise Line, a Norwegian cruise ship. Some are accommodated on this liner, others on two "hotel" ships. Hence a certain promiscuity which favored the transmission of the bacteria. “We are wondering about a factor favoring the transmission of this bacteria: working conditions. These workers work in a lot of dust, with solvents. They must wear masks, but do not always do so, which can impair their pulmonary immunity, ”says Professor Philippe Malfait. But of the 4,000 people on the site "we will not know where it comes from precisely, these people are too itinerant".

Have there been other cases?

Other cases of pneumococcal infections have been recorded in Finland, Norway and Ireland, each time on shipyards hence the hypothesis mentioned above. “Around 30 people have been infected in Finland and Norway, nine in Ireland. Without any death ”, detailed Laurence Pascale. "We are in contact with shipowners and site managers in order to set up European coordination operations", assured Christiane Bruel. This is all the more important since workers have to leave Marseille on Friday by boat, for an unknown destination for the ARS.

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• Marseilles
• Shipyard
• epidemic
• Vaccination
• Bacterium
• Health