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Immunizations - travel vaccinations - Management
Definition
- Meningococcal disease is the result of systemic infection with Neisseria meningitidis. It is transmitted by droplet or by direct contact from carriers or individuals in the early stages of the disease. It has an incubation period of 2–7 days.
- There are 13 serotypes of Neisseria meningitidis of which groups B and C are the most common in the UK. In some areas of the world, the risk of acquiring meningococcal infection, particularly group A, is much higher than in the UK. The biggest risk is in the so-called meningitis belt from sub-Saharan West Africa to East Africa.
- Meningococcal disease most commonly presents as either meningitis or septicaemia, or a combination of both.
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