[Meningococcal disease in the Netherlands: media hype, but not an epidemic].

An outbreak of meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis C, type 2a recently occurred in the Dutch province of West-Brabant. Five children were affected and two of these died. The Outbreak Management Team decided to start a local vaccination campaign with a meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine. The publicity surrounding these cases of meningococcal disease led to much anxiety throughout the Netherlands. Despite parent's concerns, there is nothing to indicate the presence of an epidemic.