YourHealth
Meningococcal disease
Meningococcal disease can cause two very serious illnesses. Find out what the signs are. Read more
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).
This section has case numbers, information for health professionals, and answers to commonly asked questions. For more information, including symptoms, illness and immunisation, visiting Meningococcal disease in the YourHealth section.
Case numbers
There are about 100 cases (confirmed plus probable) of meningococcal disease notified in New Zealand each year. In temperate climates such as New Zealand, a peak is seen around winter or spring. Between 2006 and 2010, there were between 5 and 8 deaths per year from meningococcal disease.
Following the 2004–05 meningococcal immunisation programme, the total number of confirmed cases of invasive meningococcal disease in New Zealand fell from a high of 489 in 2001 to 93 in 2007.
Case number graphs
Notified meningococcal disease cases (laboratory confirmed plus probable) by month, 2006–2011
Click image to see larger format
Notified laboratory-confirmed meningococcal disease cases by group, 2006–2011
Click image to see larger format
Information for health professionals
The HealthEd resource Meningococcal Disease – Information for Health Professionals has information on signs and symptoms and recommended antibiotics for suspected cases.
More detailed information can be found in the Immunisation Handbook 2011 and the Communicable Disease Control Manual. Also see related websites on the right for links to 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.
Questions and answers
Page last updated: 14 March 2013
Twitter
Facebook