What is meningococcal disease and meningitis? An infection with meningococcal bacteria causes a serious, potentially fatal but rare infection called meningococcal disease. You may have heard it referred to as bacterial meningitis.

Up to 1 in 10 people who get this disease die from it.

Up to 1 in 5 people who survive suffer lasting physical and/or emotional damage.

Who gets meningitis?
Even people who are usually healthy can get meningitis. Teens and young adults are at increased risk for catching the disease.

How does a person catch meningitis?
Although meningitis is not common, a person can catch it by having close personal contact with a person who is sick with the disease. You can also become infected by a carrier “a person who has the bacteria in their nose and throat but never becomes sick”.

 
How can a person prevent meningitis?
While there isn’t a way to be 100 percent protected, you can help reduce the risk of getting meningitis by avoiding the behaviors that spread it. There is also a vaccination that can help prevent it. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends vaccination for young adolescents (11 to 12 years old) and teenagers entering high school.

Learn more about Meningitis:

FDA:

http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01729.html
Center for Disease & Control: http://www.cdc.gov/

National Meningitis Association: http://www.nmaus.org/

Meningitis Angels: http://www.meningitis-angels.org/

Meningitis Foundation of America:   http://www.meningitisfoundationofamerica.org/templates/

Confederations of Meningitis Organizations: http://www.comoonline.org/

American College Health Association: http://www.acha.org/

FlyHigh Racing: www.flyhighracing.tripod.com
Fight Meningitis: www.fightmeningitis.com