If someone at work has meningitis how contagious is this?

Kathy Huddleson responds:

The bacteria that causes meningococcal disease, also known as meningitis, is contagious but generally cannot live outside the body for very long. The bacteria is not as easily transmitted as the common cold or the flu, and is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been. The disease is transmitted through air droplets and through direct contact with an infected person (e.g. coughing or kissing). If you were in direct contact with the infected person from work, you may be considered at increased risk of acquiring the infection. I would recommend you contact your health care provider to determine whether you need to receive antibiotics as a preventative measure.

For your information, there are two types of meningitis, viral or bacterial. The bacterial form of meningitis is extremely dangerous, fast-moving and has the most potential for being fatal. For many survivors, the long-term effects can be debilitating, possibly including multiple amputations, hearing loss and kidney damage. Viral meningitis has similar symptoms to bacterial meningitis, but is neither as deadly nor as debilitating for the most part.

As a mom who has lost a child to meningococcal disease, I would suggest that you learn as much information about the disease and the preventative measures as possible. Immunization is the best method to help prevent meningococcal disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends immunization for all adolescents 11 through 18 years of age and college freshmen living in dormitories, with the meningococcal conjugate vaccine called Menactra.