Preventing Meningitis B [Bulletin date: August 3, 2025]
Meningitis B can strike quickly and can become deadly in a very short time. This bacterial infection causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can enter the bloodstream. Once it does that, it can become fatal within 24 hours or can cause permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, or limb amputations.
Symptoms often develop quickly and are sometimes mistaken for the flu: high fever, stiff neck, vomiting, headache, exhaustion, and purple rash. Among these, the stiff neck is a tell-tale sign of meningitis.
Meningitis B spreads easily from person to person through saliva, as with kissing or sharing drinks, by sharing living space, or by sneezing or coughing. For these reasons, it is often seen in college students aged 18-24 who are 50% more likely to contract meningitis B than non-college students.
The good news is meningitis B can be prevented through vaccinations. If you have a teen or young adult, whether going to college soon or not, be sure to speak to their physician about immunizing them against this deadly disease. Why take the risk?
For more information go to www.meningitisbactionproject.org/about-meningitis.
770-552-6400 x6019
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