Meningococcal Disease

(Neisseria meningitidis, meningococcal meningitis, meningococcemia)

General information

Invasive meningococcal disease is an acute and serious infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. It can cause sepsis (bloodstream infection), meningitis (inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord), and pneumonia.

Those at increased risk for meningococcal disease include:

  • Household or close contacts of case patients.
  • Patients without a functioning spleen (asplenia).
  • People with terminal complement component deficiencies.
  • Microbiologists who are routinely exposed to isolates of Neisseria meningitidis.
  • Persons traveling to a country where meningococcal disease is epidemic or highly endemic,
  • First-year college students who live in residence halls, and military recruits.
  • People identified as being at increased risk during an outbreak of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease historical and current data

 

Annual Invasive Meningococcal Disease Cases by Serogroup

 

Meningococcal disease cases by outcome in Wisconsin 1993-2019

 

Meningococcal Disease Cases, Annually by Age

 

Annual Meningococcal Disease Cases in College/Technical Schools

This is a Wisconsin disease surveillance category I disease:
Report IMMEDIATELY by TELEPHONE to the patient's local public health department upon identification of a confirmed or suspected case. The local health department shall then notify the state epidemiologist immediately of any confirmed or suspected cases. Submit a case report within 24 hours either electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Surveillance System (WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease case report F-44151 (Word), or by other means.
Information on communicable disease reporting

Questions about Meningococcal Disease? Contact us!
Phone: 608-267-9003 | Fax: 608-261-4976

Wisconsin Local Health DepartmentsRegional officesTribal agencies

Glossary

 
Last revised April 14, 2023