New York City Department of Health
Bureau of Communicable Disease
New York City Department of Health
Bureau of Communicable Disease
Who gets meningococcal meningitis?
Anyone can get meningococcal meningitis, but it is more common in infants
and children.
How is meningococcal meningitis spread?
The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat
discharges of an infected person. Many people carry this particular germ
in their nose and throat without any signs of illness, while others may
develop serious symptoms.
What are the symptoms of meningococcal meningitis?
Although most people exposed to the meningococcus germ do not become seriously
ill, some may develop fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and a rash.
The disease is occasionally fatal.
How soon after infection do symptoms appear?
The symptoms may occur 2 to 10 days after exposure, but usually within
5 days.
When and for how long is an infected person able to spread the disease?
An infected person may be contagious from the time he or she is first infected
until the germ is no longer present in discharges from the nose and throat.
How is meningococcal meningitis diagnosed?
Meningococcal meningitis is diagnosed by isolating the bacteria from either
the blood or spinal fluid.
What is the treatment for meningococcal meningitis?
Certain antibiotics are very effective in eliminating the germ from the
nose and throat. Penicillin is the drug of choice for cases of meningitis.
Should people who have been in contact with a diagnosed case of meningococcal
meningitis receive preventive treatment?
Only people who have been in close contact (household members, intimate
contacts, health care personnel performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation,
day care center playmates, etc.) need to be considered for preventive treatment.
Such people are usually advised to obtain a prescription for a special
antibiotic (either rifampin or ciprofloxacin) from their physician. Casual
contact as might occur in a regular classroom, office, or factory setting
is not usually significant enough to cause concern.
Is there a vaccine to prevent meningococcal meningitis?
Presently, there is a vaccine that will protect against two of the strains
of meningococcus, but it is only recommended in outbreak situations, or
for travel to areas of the world where high rates of the disease are known
to occur.
August, 1997
For more information on Meningococcal meningitis, call 212-788-4204
during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm).