Meningococcal meningitis 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.

Meningococcal disease is transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and direct contact with an infected person. Direct contact, for these purposes, is defined as oral contact with shared items such as cigarettes, water bottles, musical instruments or drinking glasses or through intimate contact such as kissing.

In the past, the attack rate of endemic meningococcal disease was highest among children 6 to 36 months of age. Lately, however, the risk appears to be shifting toward older children and adolescents, with a rising number of outbreaks in schools, universities, and other organization-based settings, according to the American College Health Association (ACHA). In fact, over half of the outbreaks from 1992 to 1996 occurred in schools, colleges, universities, and similar settings4,5.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice has also recently recommended giving the vaccine to all 11 and 12 year old children, or unvaccinated teens at high school entry. Because these are only recommendations and not state of Ohio requirements, most insurance companies do not cover this immunization. The meningococcal vaccine is not considered useful in early meningococcal outbreak management.

Yes, a safe and effective vaccine is available. The vaccine is eighty-five percent to one hundred percent effective in preventing four kinds of bacteria (serogroups A, C, Y, W-135) that cause about seventy percent of the disease in the United States. The vaccine is safe, with mild and infrequent side effects, such as redness and pain at the injection site lasting up to two days. After vaccination, immunity develops within seven to ten days remains effective for approximately three to five years.

of August 15, 2003, In accordance with NYS Public Health Law 2167, all students enrolled at SCCC, both matriculated and non-matriculated, are required to acknowledge that they have received information about meningococcal disease and vaccination, and in addition, indicate that they either have received the appropriate vaccination within the past 10 years, or have read the information, understand the risks of not receiving the vaccine and have decided not to obtain the immunization against mening.

The vaccine helps prevent memingitis bacteria from attacking the coverings of the brain and spinal cord. Although, you are not required to take the vaccine in order to enroll to college, by law you must sign-off a waiver indicating you received information about it.

Recent evidence shows the epidemiology of meningococcal disease is changing with a majority of cases (65 percent) in the college age group caused by either serotype C, Y, or W-135, which are all vaccine-preventable.

We recommend Meningococcal meningitis immunization for freshmen living in residence halls who do not have medical or personal contraindications to vaccination. In general, the overall campus student population age 18-24 is not at increased risk for this disease compared to same-age non-students. A slight increased risk has been demonstrated for upperclassmen in residence hall and freshmen living outside of the residence halls. However that increase is quite small.

The meningococcal vaccine protects against meningitis caused by some types of Neisseria meningitidis, also called meningococcus. There is no information to suggest that persons with cochlear implants are at increased risk for meningococcal meningitis. Therefore, meningococcal vaccine is not routinely recommended for persons with cochlear implants, unless they have other reasons to get this vaccine

Meningitis is an infection of the fluid of a person's spinal cord and the fluid that surrounds the brain. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Knowing whether meningitis is caused by a virus or bacterium is important because the severity of illness and the treatment differ.

far as I am aware, only wild caught snails that carry the disease can pass on meningitis and only if they are undercooked and then eaten. Obviously you should wash your hands after you handle any pet, and observe proper hygiene in the regular cleaning of tanks and not allowing food to rot or become moldy.

Yes, there are vaccines against Hib and against some strains of N. meningitidis (meningococcal disease) and many types of Streptococcus pneumonia. The vaccines against Hib are very safe and highly effective. Boynton Health Service can administer this vaccine, but it is not covered under the student services fee. For more information, please call Boynton Health Service at 612-625-3222.

Meningococcal meningitis can be treated with antibiotics. It is important, however, that treatment be started early in. Appropriate antibiotic treatment of most common types of bacterial meningitis should reduce the risk of dying from meningitis to below 15%, although the risk is higher among the elderly.