Meningococcal Disease

Those at increased risk for meningococcal disease include:

• Household or close contacts of case patients.
• Patients without a functioning spleen (asplenia).
• People with terminal complement component deficiencies.
• Microbiologists who are routinely exposed to isolates of Neisseria meningitidis.
• Persons traveling to a country where meningococcal disease is epidemic or highly endemic,
• First-year college students who live in residence halls, and military recruits.
• People identified as being at increased risk during an outbreak of meningococcal disease.

Historical and current data for meningococcal disease

This is a Wisconsin disease surveillance category I disease.

Report immediately by telephone to the patient's local public health department upon identification of a confirmed or suspected case. The local health department shall then notify the state epidemiologist immediately of any confirmed or suspected cases. Submit a case report within 24 hours either electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Surveillance System (WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease case report F-44151 (Word), or by other means.

Information on communicable disease reporting

• Case Reporting and Investigation Protocol (EpiNet): Meningococcal disease, P-01975 (PDF) (Neisseria meningitidis)
• Wisconsin Invasive meningococcal disease management protocol P-01626 (PDF)
• Wisconsin Invasive meningococcal disease case investigation flowchart (PDF)
• Wisconsin Invasive meningococcal disease case notification template letter for providers (PDF)
• Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene Clinical Testing Reference Manual
• Information on meningococcal vaccines
• Meningitis vaccine recommendations (PDF)