Meningococcal Disease

Woman in hospital bed

Meningococcal disease refers to any illness caused by bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. These illnesses are often severe, can be deadly, and include infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream. Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines is the best protection against meningococcal disease.

Risk Factors
Causes and How It Spreads
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis, Treatment, and Complications
Prevention
Risk for meningococcal disease when receiving a complement inhibitor

Receiving complement inhibitors such as eculizumab (Soliris®) or ravulizumab (Ultomiris™) increases your risk for meningococcal disease. Even if you received meningococcal vaccines, you could still get meningococcal disease.  Learn more about this risk factor.

Antibiotic-resistant Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y

In 2020, CDC reported multiple cases of β-lactamase-producing N. meningitidis serogroup Y in the United States, including eleven cases also resistant to ciprofloxacin. Based on these findings, CDC has updated information for healthcare providers and public health staff on