Communicable Disease Service

Report Confirmed or Suspect Cases Immediately to the Local Health Department.

Meningococcal disease is any infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, or meningococcus. One serious infection it can cause is meningococcal meningitis - inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal disease can become very serious, very quickly.

Return to the main meningitis page.

Meningitis versus Meningococcal Disease: there IS a difference
Having meningitis doesn't always mean you have meningococcal disease. And having meningococcal disease doesn't necessarily mean you have meningitis. For more information on the different types of meningitis, please visit:

• NJDOH Meningitis Homepage
• CDC Meningitis Homepage: 5 "types"

For the Community

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Meningococcal Disease: Are you Protected? [English] [Spanish]
• CDC Meningococcal Homepage

• Meningococcal: Questions and Answers
• Meningococcal Vaccination:
  
  • Who Needs to be Vaccinated?
  • What You Need to Know
• CDC Traveler's Health - Meningococcal Disease

Parents and Caregivers

• Meningococcal Vaccine for Preteens and Teens [English] [Spanish]
  
  
• Adolescent Immunization Information--Protect Me with 3

Health Care Providers

• Best Practices for Use of PCR for Diagnosing H. influenzae and N. meningitidis
• Facts for Health Professionals 
• MMWR: Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease
• CDC Clinical Information
• Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations:
  • Meningococcal ACIP Vaccine Recommendations
  • CDC Meningococcal Vaccination Information:
        At a Glance
        What You Need to Know

College Health Administrators

• Guidance for Implementation of Meningococcal Vaccine Requirements

Local Health Departments

• Facts for Health Professionals 
• Normally Sterile Sites
• Meningococcal Disease Sample Notification Letter
• Pink Book's Chapter on Meningococcal Disease
• CDC's Manual for the Surveillance of VPDs: Meningococcal
• CDC Surveillance