TO KNOW 1. Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by a bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2-18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings.
Meningococcal disease can also cause blood infections.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age, and in people with certain medical conditions. College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, have a slightly increased risk of getting meningoccocal disease. Meningococcal vaccine can prevent 2 of the 3 important types of meningococcal disease in older children and adults. Meningococcal vaccine is not effective in preventing all types of the disease.