Health Officials Warn Ulm Playground Visitors After Meningococcal Case

A two-year-old was diagnosed with severe meningitis following a visit to Spatzolino indoor playground, prompting a public health alert.

A two-year-old child contracted meningitis caused by a Meningococcal B infection after visiting the Spatzolino indoor playground in Ulm-Böfingen on January 18, 2025.
The Alb-Donau district health office has urged visitors present at the playground between 3:25 PM and 6:40 PM on that day to consult their doctor for vaccination status checks and potential preventive treatment.
Meningococcal bacteria, which spread through respiratory droplets or close contact, can cause life-threatening conditions like meningitis and blood infections.
Symptoms to watch for include fever, headache, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, chills, and altered consciousness, which may initially resemble flu-like illnesses.
The source of the infection remains unidentified, but health authorities emphasize that the bacteria do not survive long outside the human body, requiring close contact for transmission.