Invasive Meningococcal Disease
Invasive meningococcal disease is a severe infection caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It causes meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain), sepsis (blood poisoning) and pneumonia (lung infection). It can be fatal.
Invasive meningococcal disease can be spread from one person to another by secretions from the nose or throat from an infected person or carrier. It takes lengthy or close contact for this disease to spread.
Though rare in the U.S., there have been outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease in New York City.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually occur two to 10 days after exposure. In most cases, symptoms begin within five days.
Early symptoms are flu-like and include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Weakness
- Severe muscle aches
These symptoms can progress quickly over the next day or so to include:
- Headache
- Stiff neck
- Cold hands and feet
- Leg pain
- Rash that looks like small, red freckles or dark purple splotches
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Loss of consciousness
People who experience these symptoms should seek immediate medical care.
Prevention
People who have had close contact with someone with invasive meningococcal disease should consider preventive antibiotic treatment. You may have been exposed if you:
- Live in the same household as someone who is infected.
- Had sex or other intimate contact with someone who is infected.
- Kissed or shared vapes, cigarettes, eating utensils or other objects that came in contact with an infected person’s oral secretions.
- Are a health care professional who performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation or procedures involving the nose, mouth and throat (such as intubation or suctioning) on someone who is infected.
Children at day care centers who are playmates of an infected child may also be at risk.
Casual contact that occurs in a classroom, office or other work setting is usually not enough to cause concern.
The Health Department contacts people believed to have been exposed to advise them about the need for antibiotics.
Vaccines
Vaccines can protect against meningococcal bacteria.
The following groups are recommended for routine vaccination:
- Children aged 11 and 12, with a booster dose at age 16.
- Children aged 13 to 18, if not previously vaccinated.
People 2 months of age or older should also get vaccinated if they:
- Are living with HIV
- Are a first-year college student living in a dormitory and are not up to date with this vaccine
- Have functional or anatomic asplenia, including sickle cell disease
- Travel to countries where invasive meningococcal disease is common
- Have certain problems with their immune system known as complement deficiencies
- Take medications called complement inhibitors such as eculizumab (Soliris®) or ravulizumab (Ultomiris™)
- Work in a lab where they may be exposed to infection
- Are part of a group of people experiencing an outbreak
- Are a military recruit
If you need meningococcal vaccination, your health care provider may be able to vaccinate you. If that is not available, many pharmacies offer meningococcal vaccine.
For more information, see CDC's Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations.
Vaccination Before Pilgrimage to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Invasive meningococcal disease has occurred among people who traveled to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah or Hajj religious pilgrimage. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires pilgrims aged one year or older to receive meningococcal vaccination. Talk to your health care provider about your plans if you are considering travel to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj or Umrah.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Invasive meningococcal disease is usually diagnosed with a sample of blood or spinal fluid.
Antibiotics are effective in both treating and preventing invasive meningococcal disease. If you think you may have been exposed to the disease, talk to your health care provider.