This section provides information about the new meningitis C vaccine and recognising the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can develop very rapidly.
Most people recover from the disease, but some are left deaf or blind and it can kill.
This blood infection often accompanies meningitis and progress quickly to coma and death. Meningitis can be caused by a number of different types of viruses or bacteria. Group B is the commonest, but group C causes more deaths. These bacteria can cause meningitis or septicaemia or both at once. The new vaccine protects against group C meningitis and septicaemia.