HOW DO PEOPLE CATCH THE DISEASE?

Meningococcal bacteria live naturally in the throat and back of the nose. Around 20% of people will be carrying them at any one time without ever becoming ill ("healthy carriers"). There are many different strains of meningococcus: the most common in Australia are B and C.

The bacteria are spread by saliva - via activities such as sneezing, coughing or kissing, and sharing food or drinks. Environments where people are in close contact, such as day-care centres, school camps, parties and nightclubs, make it easier for the bacteria to spread.

Even if you pick up the bacteria, it doesn't mean you'll become ill. The danger only occurs if you pick up a strain you're not immunised against, or don't have any natural immunity to - or if your immune system is for some reason weakened and cannot cope.

As Clayton Golledge, microbiologist and infectious diseases expert, puts it "Meningococcal disease is the most lethal infectious disease known to man".

It is capable of causing death within eight hours of the first symptom appearing.

Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria, called Neisseria meningititdis. The common name given to this germ is meningococcus.

WHAT IS MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE?

Meningococcal disease is a severe infection that occurs when the meningoccus germ invades the body through the throat or nose.

HOW IS IT SPREAD?

When a person is exposed to meningococcus from a colonised or an infected person's secretions.

COUGHING & SNEEZING

OR CLOSE INTIMATE CONTACT

BASICALLY ANY WAY THAT SALIVA MAY BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE TO ANOTHER.

ONE OF TWO THINGS WILL OCCUR

1. The meningococcal organisms adhere or stick to the surface of the cells lining the upper respiratory tract including the throat and nose. Our bodies defence system is usually able to keep the organisms from spreading. This localisation results in colonisation of the nose and throat. It is the carrier state. This may last several weeks or months, up to six months. It does not usually affect a carrier. In a very small number of cases a carrier can self-infect. Attempting to treat carriers with antibiotics slightly increases the possibility of self-infection.
2. It only occurs in those who have very recently acquired the germ from a healthy carrier.

WHAT ARE THE FORMS OF MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE?

Meningococcal disease occurs in two main forms and sometimes these can also occur as a combination of the two.

1. Meningococcal meningitis only occurs when the germ infects the outer lining around the brain the (meninges) and spinal cord. Meningitis can be caused by several types of infection, including viral infections. meningococcal meningitis is one type of meninigitis 5% of people with Meningococcal Meningitis die. They rarely suffer amputation or loss of limbs. They can however suffer brain damage, hearing loss and blindness.
2. Meningococcal septicaemia, is an infection of the blood, often called blood poisoning.

WHY IS MENINGOCOCCAL SEPTICAEMIA IMPORTANT?

The death rate is 40%; that equates to 8 in 20 people. The rate of major amputation or loss of fingers/toes is about 20%; that is approximately 4 out of 20 people. These are the rates for those who receive treatment in time.

SEPSIS

The putrefactive destruction of tissue by disease-causing bacteria or their toxins

A form of shock that occurs in septicaemia when endotoxins are released from bacteria into the bloodstream. These toxins cause vasodilation, resulting in a dramatic fall in blood pressure and are a major contributing factor to the failure of the circulatory system.

If shock occurs before treatment can be started, the death rate from meningococcal septicaemia is over 60%

IS EVERYONE AT RISK FROM MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE?

Anyone can catch meningococcal disease at any age and at any time. There are two main age groups that seem to be more affected.

Young children under 5 years of age and adolescents and young adults from about 15-24 years of age.

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