Meningitis ACWY
What?
Meningitis is a medical term for inflammation of the layer around the brain caused by bacteria. There are a number of strains of meningitis: A, B, C, W, X and Y.
How it is caught?
Meningitis is an airborne disease spread through droplets expelled during breathing or coughing.
What does it do?
Meningococcal Meningitis causes fever, intense headache, neck stiffness nausea and vomiting. If the disease develops into septicaemia, a non-blanching rash will be visible across the body.
Can it be treated?
Yes – with high strength antibiotics.
Where is it?
Meningococcal meningitis occurs across the globe but the risk to travellers is greatest when travelling in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the dry (winter) months.
How is it prevented?
Vaccine – a single dose.