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. The disease strikes 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for approximately 300 deaths annually. It is estimated that 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal disease occur annually on college campuses and five to 15 students die each year as a result. Meningococcal disease is transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and by direct contact with an infected person through the exchange of oral secretions as in sharing cigarettes, drinking glasses, and toothbrushes, and kissing. The early symptoms usually associated with meningococcal disease include fever, severe headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, rash, and may resemble the flu.