Important Notice:
Information in this handout has been gathered from the Alaska Postsecondary Student Immunization Act (HB185), signed into law effective May 18, 2005. Additional information was gathered from the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services' Division of Public Health and the Web site of the American College Health Association at http://www.acha.org/projects_programs/meningitis.The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education (ACPE) cannot provide medical information and is not responsible for any medical information provided to schools or to students. For questions specific to meningitis, immunizations, and related diseases, please consult a qualified medical professional.
Did you know?
- Meningococcal disease is a contagious but largely preventable bacterial infection that most often leads to meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, or a condition called meningococcal septicemia, which is an infection of the blood.
- Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis that are spread person-to-person through the air (usually by sneezing or coughing), through direct contact with an infected person, such as oral contact with shared items like cigarettes or drinking glasses, or through intimate contact, such as kissing. This disease is not as contagious as things like the common cold or the flu, and it is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.
- Meningococcal disease is a serious illness that can lead to death within a few hours of onset; one out of ten cases is fatal, and in one out of seven survivors it can lead to severe and permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, hearing loss, seizures, or limb amputation.
What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?
High fever, headache, and stiff neck are common symptoms of meningitis in anyone over the age of 2 years. A rash may also develop over parts of the body, or the entire body. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, discomfort looking into bright lights, confusion, and sleepiness. These symptoms can develop over several hours, or they may take 1 to 2 days. As the disease progresses, seizures may develop. If you notice these symptoms - in yourself, friends, or others you should contact your college health service or local hospital immediately.
Who is at risk for meningococcal disease?
Anyone can get meningococcal meningitis, but scientific evidence suggests that college freshmen living in campus housing are at moderately increased risk to get this disease when compared to the general college population. The reasons for this increased risk are still not known for certain, but factors may include such things as crowded living situations, bar patronage, active or passive smoking, irregular sleep patterns, and sharing personal items.
Other risk groups include infants and young children, household contacts to a person with meningococcal disease, refugees from parts of the world with high rates of meningococcal disease, laboratory workers who work with this bacteria, and military recruits.
Are there vaccines against meningococcal disease?
Yes, there are two safe and effective vaccines that protect against four strains of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease - serogroups A, C, Y, and W135. Immunization against meningococcal disease will decrease the risk of contracting the illness from these meningococcal strains.
How can meningococcal disease be prevented?
- Many cases of meningococcal disease can be prevented. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College Health Association recommend that all first-year students living in residence halls be vaccinated against meningococcal disease. All other college students under the age of 25 years who wish to reduce their risk for the disease may choose to be vaccinated.
- Vaccination is safe and effective. It protects against four of the five most common strains (or types) of bacteria that cause meningitis. Approximately 70 to 80 percent of cases in the college age group are caused by strains that are potentially vaccine-preventable. The most commonly reported adverse reactions among adolescents and adults in clinical studies were pain at the injection site, headache, and fatigue. These respond to simple measures (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) and resolve spontaneously within a few days.