Meningococcal disease: background information
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious infection that can cause meningitis or sepsis. This page explains what it is, how it spreads, who is most at risk and what to do if you鈥檙e concerned.
Seeking medical advice听
鈥⑻鼵all 999听immediately听if you think听someone has meningitis or sepsis.听
鈥⑻鼵all NHS 111听if听you鈥檙e听unsure but concerned.听
March 2026 outbreak听
For听the most up to date information see our听news report听which we are regularly updating with听the latest developments.听
For latest听case听numbers听see our听statistical releases听
Meningococcal disease听
Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection caused by听Neisseria meningitidis, also known as the meningococcus bacterium.听
It can lead to听invasive听meningococcal disease (IMD) including:听
- meningitis听(infection of the lining of听the brain and spinal cord)听
- sepsis听
Anyone can catch meningococcal disease, but听it鈥檚听more common in:听
- babies and young children听
- teenagers and young adults听
-
older听adults听
- people with a weak immune system鈥�� for example,听due to鈥�痮谤 鈥�
Signs and symptoms听of meningococcal disease听
Meningococcal disease needs to be treated quickly so it is important to know the signs and symptoms which can happen in any order and may not all be present. Symptoms of meningococcal disease鈥痗an鈥痠nclude:鈥�
- a rash that鈥痙oesn鈥檛鈥痜ade when pressed with听a glass鈥�
- sudden onset of high fever鈥�
- severe and worsening headache鈥�
- stiff neck
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- joint and muscle pain
- dislike of bright lights
- very cold hands and feet
- seizures
- confusion/delirium
- extreme sleepiness/difficulty waking
听
You should seek urgent鈥痬edical help听and call 999听if鈥痽ou think you or someone you look after鈥痟as鈥痬eningococcal disease.
What听the rash caused by meningococcal disease looks听like听
A rash鈥痙oesn鈥檛鈥痑lways appear,听but听when it does, it can look different from person to person.听A rash is听one of the most important signs of meningococcal鈥痙isease.鈥疍o not wait for a rash to鈥痑ppear鈥痓efore seeking medical help.
The rash often begins as a few small, separate spots. These can quickly develop听into听a听non-blanching rash, which means鈥痠t鈥痙oes not fade when you press on it. A rash that appears and spreads quickly is a sign of鈥痸ery serious鈥痠llness and needs urgent medical attention.
On darker skin,听the rash can be harder to see. It may be more noticeable on lighter areas such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, the鈥痵tomach, or inside the eyelids or mouth. Check the whole body, especially areas鈥痺here鈥痗lothing fits tightly, such as around underwear elastic, nappies, or鈥痵ocks.
How听Meningococcal infection听spreads听
Meningococcal infection doesn鈥檛 spread very easily.听It听is听usually听passed on to听others听from听people听who听carry听the听bacteria听in their nose or听throat. Transmission of the bacteria usually requires听a long period of close contact, such as:听
- living together in shared accommodation听
- intimate听contact such as听kissing听
Repeated or prolonged听sharing听of听items听such as听vapes听or听straws听could听also听increase the risk听of passing听on听the bacteria.
Many people carry the听bacteria听in听their听nose and throat without any symptoms. However, in some people, the bacteria听can听get into the bloodstream and cause meningococcal disease.听
Strains (serogroups)听
Meningococcal听bacteria听are classified into several strains.听These include听MenA,鈥疢enB,鈥疢enC,鈥疢enW,鈥疢enX,听and鈥疢enY.听
Vaccinations听
Vaccines are the best way to protect against several types of meningococcal bacteria.听
In the UK, vaccines are routinely offered to:听
- babies听at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year听(MenB vaccine)
- teenagers aged 13 to 14听(MenACWY听vaccine)
Contact your GP听if you or your child听have听missed a vaccine. Teenagers and students under 25 can still get missed MenACWY听doses for free.听
There is no NHS catchup programme for the MenB vaccine if you were born before听1 May 2015, but it is available privately.听
Find out more about .
Treatment
Meningococcal disease requires urgent hospital treatment, including antibiotics and fluids given directly into a vein.听
Most people who receive prompt treatment make a full recovery, but some experience long-term complications including hearing loss, memory problems, or loss of limbs.听
Early diagnosis improves chances of recovery.听
Further information听and resources听
- 听
- 听Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm听UK: 080 8800 3344听Republic of Ireland: 1800 41 33 44听
- 听0808 80 10 388听(9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Friday)