What is meningococcal meningitis?
What causes meningococcal meningitis?
How many contract meningitis and how many die from meningitis?
How is meningococcal meningitis spread?
What are the symptoms?
Who is at risk?
How often do outbreaks occur?
Is one type of serogroup of meningococcal meningitis more common in college students?
Does the CDC recommend vaccination for college students?
Why should college students consider vaccination with the meningococcal vaccine?
Who should consider being vaccinated?
How effective is the vaccine?
Is the vaccine safe and are there adverse side effects to the vaccine?
What is the duration of protection?
What is meningococcal meningitis?
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. (Back to top)
What causes meningococcal meningitis?
Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, a leading cause of meningitis and septicemia (or blood poisoning) in teenagers and young adults in the United States. Meningitis and septicemia are the most common manifestations of the disease, although they have been expressed as septic arthritis, pneumonia, brain inflammation and other syndromes. (Back to top)
How many contract meningitis and how many die from meningitis?
Meningococcal meningitis strikes about 3,000 Americans each year and is responsible for about 300 deaths annually. It is estimated that 100 to 125 cases of meningococcal meningitis occur annually on college campuses and 5 to 15 die as a result. (Back to top)
How is meningococcal meningitis spread?
Many people in a population can be a carrier of meningococcal bacterial (up to 11 percent) and usually nothing happens to a person other than acquiring natural antibodies. Meningococcal bacteria are transmitted through the air via droplets of respiratory secretions and by direct contact with an infected person. Direct contact, for these purposes, is defined as oral contact with shared items, such as cigarettes or drinking glasses, or through intimate contact such as kissing. (Back to top)
What are the symptoms?
The early symptoms usually associated with meningococcal meningitis include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, rash, nausea, vomiting and lethargy, and may resemble the flu. Because the disease progresses rapidly, often in as little as 12 hours, prompt diagnosis and treatment are important to assuring recovery. (Back to top)
Who is at risk?
Recent evidence indicated that college student residing on campus in dormitories or residence halls appear to be at higher risk for meningococcal meningitis than college student overall. Further research recently released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows freshmen living in dormitories have a six fold increased risk for meningococcal meningitis than college students overall. Although anyone can be a carrier of the bacteria that causes meningococcal meningitis, data indicates certain social behaviors, such as exposure to passive and active smoking, bar patronage and excessive alcohol consumption, may put college students at increased risk for the disease. Patients with respiratory infections, compromised immunity, those in close contact to a known case and travelers to endemic areas of the world are also at increased risk. Cases and outbreaks usually occur in the late winter and early spring when school is in session. (Back to top)
How often do outbreaks occur?
From 1980 to 1993, there were 21 outbreaks, three of which occurred in colleges. From 1994 to 1996, there have been 26 outbreaks, four of which occurred in colleges. Between 1986 and 1993, an outbreak was defined as five cases of the same serotype in 100,000 people with at least three occurring within three months. From 1994 to present, 10 cases of the same serotype in 100,000 people with at least three occurring within three months constitute an outbreak. (Back to top)
Is one type of serogroup of meningococcal meningitis more common in college students?
Recent evidence shows the epidemiology of meningococcal meningitis 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. Rates of mortality and complications are higher for these serogroups compared to serogroup B. (Back to top)
Does the CDC recommend vaccination for college students?
On October 20, 1999, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that college students, particularly freshmen living in dormitories, be educated about meningococcal meningitis and the potential benefits of vaccination. ACIP further recommends that immunization should be provided or made easily available to those freshmen who wish to reduce their risk for meningococcal meningitis. Other undergraduate students wishing to reduce their risk for meningococcal meningitis can also choose to be vaccinated. (Back to top)
Why should college students consider vaccination with the meningococcal vaccine?
Data from the CDC demonstrates that sub-populations of college students are at increased risk for meningococcal meningitis. Pre-exposure vaccination enhances immunity to four strains of meningococcal that cause 65 to 70 percent of invasive disease and therefore reduces a student's risk for disease. Development of immunity after vaccination requires 7 to 10 days. (Back to top)
Who should consider being vaccinated?
Those who should consider being vaccinated include freshmen college students, particularly those living in dormitories or residence halls, undergraduate students 25 years of age or younger, and students with medical conditions that compromise immunity (HIV, absent spleen, antibody deficiency, etc.). (Back to top)
How effective is the vaccine?
The meningococcal vaccine has been shown to provide protection against the most common strains of the disease, including serogroups A, C, Y and W-135. The vaccine is 85 to 100 percent effective in serogroups A and C in older children and adults. (Back to top)
Is the vaccine safe and are there any adverse side effects to the vaccine?
The vaccine is very safe and adverse reactions are mile and infrequent, consisting primarily of redness and pain at the site of injection lasting up to two days. (Back to top)
What is the duration of protection?
The duration of the meningococcal vaccine's efficacy is thought to be lifelong. As with any vaccine, vaccination against meningitis may not protect 100 percent of all susceptible individuals. (Back to top)
