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Alert after deadly bacterial infection scare in famous Berlin sex club

Party-goers who attended a famous Berlin sex club last weekend have been seeking medical attention after an alert over a potential outbreak of a deadly bacterial infection was issued.

Published: 4 October 2018 12:59 CEST
Alert after deadly bacterial infection scare in famous Berlin sex club
Archive photo of a club scene. Photo: Depositphoto/gdolgikh

People who went to the KitKat club on Saturday, September 29th have been urged to get checked out for Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus, the bacteria that can cause meningitis.

It came after a guest reported that he was suffering from the infection. German media on Thursday said that a “rush” of people have been in contact with doctors – but anyone else who attended the club is urged to speak to health professionals as a precautionary measure.

“Several people contacted the rescue services of the Neukölln Clinic and the Am Urban Clinic,” Kristina Tschenett, press spokesperson for the Vivantes clinic group, told Tagesspeigel.

“With this term, we have a red alert,” said Falko Liecke (CDU), the health city counsellor of Neukölln, pointing to the severity of the situation when it comes to meningitis.

Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but serious bacterial infection which causes the membranes which cover the brain and spinal chord to become inflamed. Common symptoms are severe headaches, high fever, chills, dizziness, stiffness of the neck, drowsiness, joint pain and feeling very ill.

Some sufferers can also develop a reddish or purple skin rash that does not turn white when you press a glass against it. This can be a sign of blood poisoning.

The infection is usually spread via fluids from the mouth and throat, for example coughing, sneezing and kissing. It can be treated with antibiotics.

Authorities in Berlin's Reinickendorf district issued a statement on Tuesday, urging anyone who was at the club to “seek immediate preventive treatment”.

Authorities said: “Please consult your general practitioner or the emergency room (ER)  of a hospital immediately.”

The statement added that there was a “transmission of a bacterial meningitis (meningococcal meningitis) in the KitKatClub”. The bacteria strains A, C, Y and W135 are believed to have been possibly spread in the famous night spot.

On Facebook the club, which is famous for its wild parties where anything goes, issued a statement with details of the incident and listed symptoms.

The club said the patient attended Saturday night’s 'CarneBall Bizarre' club night. In the statement, they said staff did not have symptoms but had been offered antibiotic treatment as a precautionary measure.

The hedonistic Berlin institution is located in Köpenicker Straße, on the edge of Mitte, and is a landmark in the city’s club scene, which attracts tourists from all over the world.

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BERLIN

EXPLAINED: Berlin’s latest Covid rules

In response to rapidly rising Covid-19 infection rates, the Berlin Senate has introduced stricter rules, which came into force on Saturday, November 27th. Here's what you need to know.

Published: 27 November 2021 16:16 CET
Updated: 29 November 2021 14:17 CET
A sign in front of a waxing studio in Berlin indicates the rule of the 2G system
A sign in front of a waxing studio indicates the rule of the 2G system with access only for fully vaccinated people and those who can show proof of recovery from Covid-19 as restrictions tighten in Berlin. STEFANIE LOOS / AFP

The Senate agreed on the tougher restrictions on Tuesday, November 23rd with the goal of reducing contacts and mobility, according to State Secretary of Health Martin Matz (SPD).

He explained after the meeting that these measures should slow the increase in Covid-19 infection rates, which was important as “the situation had, unfortunately, deteriorated over the past weeks”, according to media reports.

READ ALSO: Tougher Covid measures needed to stop 100,000 more deaths, warns top German virologist

Essentially, the new rules exclude from much of public life anyone who cannot show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19. You’ll find more details of how different sectors are affected below.

Shops
If you haven’t been vaccinated or recovered (2G – geimpft (vaccinated) or genesen (recovered)) from Covid-19, then you can only go into shops for essential supplies, i.e. food shopping in supermarkets or to drugstores and pharmacies.

Many – but not all – of the rules for shopping are the same as those passed in the neighbouring state of Brandenburg in order to avoid promoting ‘shopping tourism’ with different restrictions in different states.

Leisure
2G applies here, too, as well as the requirement to wear a mask with most places now no longer accepting a negative test for entry. Only minors are exempt from this requirement.

Sport, culture, clubs
Indoor sports halls will off-limits to anyone who hasn’t  been vaccinated or can’t show proof of recovery from Covid-19. 2G is also in force for cultural events, such as plays and concerts, where there’s also a requirement to wear a mask. 

In places where mask-wearing isn’t possible, such as dance clubs, then a negative test and social distancing are required (capacity is capped at 50 percent of the maximum).

Restaurants, bars, pubs (indoors)
You have to wear a mask in all of these places when you come in, leave or move around. You can only take your mask off while you’re sat down. 2G rules also apply here.

Hotels and other types of accommodation 
Restrictions are tougher here, too, with 2G now in force. This means that unvaccinated people can no longer get a room, even if they have a negative test.

Hairdressers
For close-contact services, such as hairdressers and beauticians, it’s up to the service providers themselves to decide whether they require customers to wear masks or a negative test.

Football matches and other large-scale events
Rules have changed here, too. From December 1st, capacity will be limited to 5,000 people plus 50 percent of the total potential stadium or arena capacity. And only those who’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19 will be allowed in. Masks are also compulsory.

For the Olympic Stadium, this means capacity will be capped at 42,000 spectators and 16,000 for the Alte Försterei stadium. 

Transport
3G rules – ie vaccinated, recovered or a negative test – still apply on the U-Bahn, S-Bahn, trams and buses in Berlin. It was not possible to tighten restrictions, Matz said, as the regulations were issued at national level.

According to the German Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, people have to wear a surgical mask or an FFP2 mask  on public transport.

Christmas markets
The Senate currently has no plans to cancel the capital’s Christmas markets, some of which have been open since Monday. 

According to Matz, 2G rules apply and wearing a mask is compulsory.

Schools and day-care
Pupils will still have to take Covid tests three times a week and, in classes where there are at least two children who test positive in the rapid antigen tests, then tests should be carried out daily for a week.  

Unlike in Brandenburg, there are currently no plans to move away from face-to-face teaching. The child-friendly ‘lollipop’ Covid tests will be made compulsory in day-care centres and parents will be required to confirm that the tests have been carried out. Day-care staff have to document the results.

What about vaccination centres?
Berlin wants to expand these and set up new ones, according to Matz. A new vaccination centre should open in the Ring centre at the end of the week and 50 soldiers from the German army have been helping at the vaccination centre at the Exhibition Centre each day since last week.

The capacity in the new vaccination centre in the Lindencenter in Lichtenberg is expected to be doubled. There are also additional vaccination appointments so that people can get their jabs more quickly. Currently, all appointments are fully booked well into the new year.

 

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