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 Meningococcal disease for more information, including symptoms, illness and immunisation.

More detailed information can be found in the: 

• Immunisation Handbook
• Communicable Disease Control Manual

Also see the Centers for Disease Control (US) and the Health Protection Agency (UK) websites.

Parenteral antibiotics should be administered to all cases as soon as meningococcal disease is suspected.

Attending medical practitioners and laboratories must immediately notify a medical officer of health of any suspected cases of meningococcal disease.

Notification should not await confirmation. Public health services will follow-up cases and people who have been in close contact with the case.

Information for the public

• Meningococcal disease – Health Information and Services
• Meningococcal vaccine - Health Information and Services

Health education resources

• Meningococcal disease resources - HealthEd
• Meningococcal disease – Know the symptoms brochure
• Immunise against Meningococcal disease poster