title: [Policy for the prevention of meningococcal infections in Belgium].
abstract: An outbreak of meningococcal disease occurred in Belgium from 1969 to 1975. It was caused by serogroup B, serotype 2 organisms. As there is no effective vaccine against serogroup B meningococci, the aim of prophylaxis is to prevent the occurrence of secondary cases among contacts of patients. Epidemiologic studies were carried out during the outbreak. A significant risk of secondary case was shown to be associated with household, day-care nursery, and pre-elementary school exposure. In most instances, the prophylactic measures prescribed by physicians were inappropriate. The effectiveness of prevention was low. A new prophylactic policy was defined, combining the identification of high risk contacts, the close medical supervision of these contacts ant the prescription of effective chemoprophylactic drugs. The Belgian experience illustrates some of the problems and difficulties associated with the use of the results of epidemiologic studies for health policy making.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001530:Belgium; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
vernacular_title: Politique de prévention des affections méningococciques en Belgique.