Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal Disease in New Zealand
www.moh.govt.nz/meningococcal

Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, known as a meningococcus. It causes severe illnesses including:

meningitis (an infection of membranes that cover the brain)
septicaemia (blood poisoning).

View more information on meningococcal disease below:

Symptoms and illness

Meningococcal disease symptoms may include a high fever, headache, vomiting or refusal of feeds, sleepiness, a stiff neck and dislike of bright lights, joint and muscle pains and a rash. It causes meningitis (an infection of the brain membranes) and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Meningococcal disease is most common in children under the age of five years, although it can occur at any age.

Meningococcal disease is serious and can sometimes cause death or permanent disability such as deafness or disfigurement.

Bacteria

Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. There are several different groups of meningococcal bacteria including Groups A, B, C, Y and W135. These groups of bacteria can be divided into specific strains. The MeNZB^TM vaccine was developed to protect against a common strain of meningococcal B disease in New Zealand. The MeNZB^TM vaccine only protects against this specific B strain, and will not protect against meningococcal A, C, Y or W135 or other strains of B.

How is it spread?

The bacteria are spread through contact with respiratory secretions by coughing, sneezing and kissing. Basic steps like covering your nose or mouth when you sneeze or cough and washing and drying your hands can help reduce the chance of spreading the bacteria. However one in five people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without getting sick.

How many meningococcal disease epidemic strain cases have there been?

Since 1991 there have been persistently high rates of meningococcal B disease in New Zealand. In 1997 there were 235 meningococcal B epidemic strain cases, rising to 370 at the peak of the epidemic in 2001. The Meningococcal B Immunisation Programme began in 2004 and by 2007, the number of epidemic strain cases had fallen to 47. Even though the number of cases of epidemic strain disease have reduced, it is important to remember that the disease has not entirely disappeared.

Case number graphs

Laboratory confirmed meningococcal cases by strain type, 2000-2007

Graph of laboratory confirmed meningococcal cases by strain type, 2000-2007.

Graph of laboratory confirmed meningococcal cases by strain type, 2000-2007.

View graph at full size and source data.

Confirmed and probably cases of meningococcal disease, 1990-2007

Graph of confirmed and probably cases of meningococcal disease, 1990-2007.

Graph of confirmed and probably cases of meningococcal disease, 1990-2007.

View graph at full size and source data.

Related information

Immunisation section

Meningococcal B (MeNZB^TM

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Page last updated 20 January 2009