meningococcal disease

Meningococcal disease is a serious, vaccine-preventable infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a gram-negative diplococcus bacteria also known as meningococcus. Meningococcal disease presents as life-threatening and rapidly progressive meningitis, meningococcal sepsis, or a combination of both. Initial symptoms are flu-like and generally nonspecific, including fever, headache, neck stiffness, nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms including photophobia and confusion. A purple rash know