About Meningococcal Disease

Meningococcal disease is a rare but often life-threatening disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (commonly known as meningococcus). There are 13 strains of meningococcus. The strains that worldwide are the most common cause of disease are A, B, C, W and Y. In Australia, serogroups B, W and Y account for most cases.¹

Most meningococcal disease occurs in children aged under five years of age and in older adolescents and young adults.¹

Doctoring Little Mermaid (2015)

Watch here.

Meningococcal Disease Symptoms

People with meningococcal disease can become extremely unwell very quickly. They may feel sicker than they have ever felt before. After being infected, it usually takes one to ten days for symptoms to appear.

The possible symptoms are:²

• Sudden onset of fever
• rash of red-purple pinpricks or bruises
• headache
• neck stiffness
• photophobia (sensitivity to light)
• muscle aches
• cold hands and feet
• joint pain
• nausea and vomiting

How Meningococcal Disease Spreads

Meningococcus is only carried and passed on by humans. It is spread by coughing, sneezing and regular, close, prolonged household or intimate contact with infected secretions from the back of the nose and throat. The bacteria can only survive a few seconds outside the body so they cannot be picked up from the environment.

Carriage rates are highest in older teenagers.³

Meningococcal Disease Complications

About 1 in 5 people who recover from meningococcal disease have serious long term health problems such as: ⁴

• hearing loss
• difficulties with vision
• skin scarring or limb amputation
• limb weakness
• seizures
• intellectual or behavioural disabilities
• permanent brain damage.

Lachlan’s story (2024)

A parent’s perspective (2024)

Sumeyra’s story (2018)

Sumeyra contracted Meningococcal disease, a sometimes life-threatening illness when she was 20 years old. She had to be placed in a medically induced coma. Luckily Sumeyra survived, but she still suffers from the effects of Meningococcal disease today.

Meningococcal Disease Prevention

Quadrivalent meningococcal disease vaccine protects against strains A, C, W and Y. It is part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP) and is free for

• children aged 12 months
• adolescents between 14-16 years of age (year 10 equivalent)
• adolescents between 15 – 19 as part of the catch-up program
• those with aspen/hyposplenia, complement deficiency or on eculizumab treatment

Vaccine is also available as a private prescription for:

• some travel destinations, occupations and medical conditions
• anyone wanting to protect themselves or their family from these strains of meningococcal disease(available for anyone over 6 weeks of age)¹

Meningococcal B vaccine is free on the NIP for:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months.

• those with aspen/hyposplenia, complement deficiency or on eculizumab treatment

Meningococcal B vaccine is also available on private prescription for:

• infants, young children, adolescents, young adults living close together, some medical conditions and occupations
• anyone wanting to protect themselves or their family from this strain of meningococcal (available for anyone over 6 weeks of age)¹

Meningococcal B Vaccine Programs

Meningococcal C vaccine is free on the NIP for:

• adolescents aged 10 – 14 years under the catch-up program

Meningococcal C disease is now very well controlled with only a handful of cases per year.⁵

Meningococcal Disease Treatment

If meningococcal disease is suspected, an antibiotic (usually penicillin) is given immediately by injection. People with meningococcal disease are almost always admitted to hospital and may require admission to an intensive care unit.

More Meningococcal Disease Information

Watch: Video featuring Professor Robert Booy