It’s a potentially fatal, fast-moving disease1,2,7

About 3000 Americans get meningococcal disease each year.^11,12 Although this makes it a relatively rare disease, the consequences are severe. As many as 1 in 10 people infected will die from the disease.² Up to 1 in 5 of the people who survive will suffer from permanent damage such as hearing loss, brain damage, loss of limbs, severe scarring, and lasting emotional troubles.^2,6,7

Meningitis symptoms can come on very suddenly, and the disease can progress extremely quickly.^2,6,7,8 In some cases, even with treatment, meningococcal disease can kill an otherwise healthy young person in less than 48 hours.^2,6,7,8 When a person has meningitis, they need to be seen by a health-care provider and treated without delay.

It can easily be mistaken for the flu

Some of the symptoms of meningococcal disease are just like the symptoms of the flu or other common viral illnesses.² Both meningococcal disease and other illnesses can cause fever, headache, and nausea. This may lead someone with the disease to just "wait it out."

But a person with meningitis will only get sicker without treatment.² That’s why it’s important to watch out for the warning signs.

Although meningitis can strike at any age, teens and college students are at increased risk3

Very young children are at the highest risk for infection. But in recent years, data have shown that teens and young adults are also at increased risk.³

Starting in early adolescence, a child’s risk of meningococcal disease begins to rise again. This increased risk reaches a peak between the ages of 15 and 24.3

Death rates from meningococcal disease are up to 5 times higher among 15- to 24-year-olds compared with younger children.3

Among college students, freshmen who live in dorms are at least 5 times more likely to contract meningococcal disease than other students.13

You can protect yourself and your family from meningitis

As many as 1 in 3 people may carry the bacteria that causes meningitis without ever getting sick.¹⁴ However, these carriers can give the bacteria to someone else without even knowing it.²

Even with treatment, not everyone who gets meningococcal disease will survive. That’s why protecting people against the disease is so important. A single vaccination can help.

There are 13 different strains (called serogroups) of meningococcal bacteria. The vaccine that is available right now protects against 4 common strains. In the United States, as many as 83 percent of meningitis cases in adolescents and young adults are caused by these 4 strains and could potentially be prevented by a single vaccination.³

Of course, no vaccine is guaranteed to protect 100% of the people who receive it. But if you are a parent, ask your child’s doctor about how to protect your child.

Vaccination is recommended for college students and adolescents

Because adolescents and college students are at increased risk, the government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines to help lower the number of meningitis cases in these age groups. These guidelines recommend meningococcal vaccination for children ages 11-12 years. For teens who have not received the vaccine earlier, the CDC recommends getting the vaccine when they start high school or before starting college, particularly if they are going to live in a dorm.¹⁵

In some places, laws have been passed to help fight meningitis. More than 30 states now have laws that require colleges to inform students and parents about meningococcal disease and the availability of vaccination. Many states also require that this information is given to high school students, summer campers, and their parents.¹⁶