Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection that can cause meningitis, bloodstream infection, and other localized infections. Although the disease is not common in the United States, in those who get it, symptoms develop and progress rapidly even leading to death in 24-48 hours.

Meningitis can lead to:

• loss of a limb,
• permanent neurologic impairment,
• or death.

Meningococcal bacteremia can result in:

• joint infection,
• pneumonia,
• organ system failure,
• shock,
• and death.

Meningococcal disease is spread by direct contact with large droplet respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing, kissing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation). Fortunately, none of the bacteria that cause meningitis are as contagious as things like the common cold or the flu, and they are not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. But close household contacts of persons with meningococcal disease are at greatly increased risk of infection.

Meningococcal vaccine can prevent 4 types of meningococcal disease, including 2 of the 3 types most common in the U.S. (serogroup C, Y, and W-135) and a type that causes epidemics in Africa (serogroup A). Meningococcal vaccine cannot prevent all types of the disease. But it does protect many people who might become sick if they didn't get the vaccine.