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Share Your Story
If you or someone you know has been affected by meningococcal disease, please share your story with us.
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Click here for answers to
frequently asked questions about meningococcal meningitis.
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Be Aware!
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that causes swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis,
or causes blood poisoning, called meningococcemia.
- It is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. among toddlers, adolescents and young adults.
- The infection strikes nearly 3,000 Americans each year, and 10 to 12 percent of those infected will die.
- Among those who survive meningococcal disease, approximately 20 percent live with permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, kidney disease, hearing loss or loss of limbs.
- There is a safe, FDA-approved vaccine that can help prevent the majority of adolescent cases.
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The National Meningitis Association (NMA) is a nonprofit organization founded by parents whose children have died or live with permanent
disabilities from meningococcal disease.
