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Disease information

Virus or bacteria

Meningococcus is caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Infection with this bacterium can cause death within hours.

How it spreads

• Meningococcus spreads through intimate contact with an infected person. This can be kissing or sharing food or drinks.
• A susceptible person may also get infected by spending an extended period of time with a person who has the bacteria living in their nose or throat, such as in a classroom or dorm.

Although only about 1 of 20 susceptible people who are exposed will become ill, this infection is very deadly — about 4 of 10 infected people will die.

Symptoms

Symptoms vary based on which complications occur.

Typical disease timeline

The length of illness varies depending on a number of factors. One factor is which complications occur. The image shows the likelihood of having a particular complication.

Possible complications

• Meningitis (30 of 100 people will die from this complication)
• Sepsis (40 of 100 people will die from this complication)
• Pneumonia
• Limb amputation, hearing loss, skin death (requiring grafting), kidney disease or mental delays (About 15 of every 100 people who survive will be affected in these ways)
• Death (Up to 4 of every 10 people infected)
   

Other things to know

• College freshmen who live in dorms are at higher risk of getting meningococcal infection because the bacteria can spread more easily in close living spaces.
• Meningococcal bacteria only infect people.

Vaccine information 

Three vaccines are used to prevent meningococcus:

• MenACWY provides protection against four common types of meningococcus, called types A, C, W, and Y.
• MenB offers protection from a fifth type, called type B.
• MenABCWY combines MenACWY and MenB vaccines to provide protection against all five types of meningococcal bacteria. It can be used when people need both MenACWY and MenB during the same medical visit.

Vaccine type

• Polysaccharide vaccines
• Recombinant vaccines

Vaccine side effects

Common

• Pain or tenderness at the injection site (48 to 59 of 100 recipients)
• Fever (100-103°F) (3 to 5 of 100 recipients)
• Headache and feeling "out of sorts"(60 of 100 recipients)

Rare

• None

Very rare

• Serious allergic reaction (fewer than 1 of 1,000,000 recipients)

Reasons to get the meningococcal vaccine

• People die from meningococcal disease every year.
• Meningococcus can live in someone's nose and throat without causing infection. So, it's hard to predict who will get sick when exposed to meningococcus.
• College freshmen living in dorms are at higher risk for meningococcal infections. So, the meningococcal vaccine can protect your child when you can't be there.
• Some people die when they are infected with meningococcus. Many of those who survive are left with permanent disabilities.
• The meningococcal vaccine is safe.