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What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is a rare but potentially fatal
bacterial infection. The disease is expressed as either
meningococcal meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes
surrounding the brain and spinal cord or meningococcemia,
the presence of bacteria in the blood.
What causes meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium
Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of meningitis
and septicemia (or blood poisoning) in the United States.
Meningitis is one of the most common manifestations of the
disease, although it has been known to cause septic
arthritis, pneumonia, brain inflammation and other
syndromes.
How is meningococcal disease spread?
Meningococcal disease is transmitted through the air via
droplets of respiratory secretions and direct contact with
an infected person. Direct contact, for these purposes, is
defined as oral contact with shared items such as cigarettes
or drinking glasses, or through intimate contact such as
kissing.
What are the symptoms?
The early symptoms usually associated with meningococcal
disease include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash,
nausea, vomiting, and lethargy, and may resemble the flu.
Because the disease progresses rapidly, often in as little
as 12 hours, students are urged to seek medical care
immediately if they experience two or more of these symptoms
concurrently.
Who is at risk?
Evidence found students residing on campus in dormitories
appear to be at higher risk for meningococcal disease than
college students overall. Further research released by the
CDC shows freshmen living in dormitories have a six times
higher risk of meningococcal disease than college students
overall.
Why should college students consider vaccination
with the meningococcal vaccine?
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) demonstrate increasing incidence of
outbreaks on college campuses. Data further suggests that
sub-populations of college students are at increased risk
for meningococcal disease. Pre-exposure vaccination enhances
immunity to four strains of meningococcus that cause 65 to
70 percent of invasive disease and therefore reduces a
student's risk for disease. Development of immunity
post-vaccination requires 7-10 days.
Who should be vaccinated
pre-exposure?
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Entering college students,
particularly those living in dormitories or residence
halls, who elect to decrease their risk for
meningococcal disease.
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Undergraduate students 25
years of age or under who request vaccination in order
to decrease their risk for disease and are not pregnant.
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Students with medical
conditions that compromise immunity (e.g., HIV, absent
spleen, antibody deficiency).
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Students traveling to areas
of the world with endemic meningococcal disease.
For
additional information contact the Center for Disease
Control – 800-232-2522 or
www.cdc.gov/vaccines
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