The disease can easily be misdiagnosed as something less serious, because symptoms are similar to the flu. Anyone with similar symptoms should contact a physician immediately. If not treated, often within hours of the onset of symptoms, the disease can progress rapidly and can lead to shock and death. In the United States, outbreaks of serogroup C meningococcal disease have been occurring more frequently since the early 1990s, especially among young adults in school and community settings. There were 26 outbreaks between 1994 and 1996, four of these outbreaks at a college or university, compared with only 15 outbreaks occurring between 1989 and 1993, including two outbreaks at a college or university.
Meningococcal disease can affect people at any age.
Certain groups are at increased risk for contracting the disease including those in close contact with a known case, upper respiratory infections with compromised immune systems, and persons traveling to endemic areas of the world. Since 1991, cases of meningococcal disease among 15-24 year olds have more than doubled. Recent evidence found students residing on campus in dormitories appear to be at higher risk for meningococcal disease than college students overall. Further research recently released by the CDC shows freshman living in dormitories have a six times higher risk for meningococcal disease than college students overall. Prior to 1971, the military had experienced high rates of meningococcal disease, particularly serotype C disease.