The control of meningococcal disease

Rapid treatment of people believed to be infected, and chemoprophylaxis of all close contacts, are the essentials of both immediate and broader public health management of this disease

Although not common, invasive infection with Neisseria meningitidis can be devastating to affected patients and families, and, despite modern treatment, has a case-fatality risk of about 9%.1 In a small proportion of affected patients the disease runs a fulminant course, with death supervening in less than 12 hours. As a result, the disease is a cause of public alarm and receives intense media coverage.