Information About
Meningococcal Disease

 
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Revised June 2007

As of July 24, 2005, schools are required to provide meningococcal information beginning with sixth grade entry to students and parents in the community.

Meningococcal disease, commonly known as meningitis, strikes up to 3,000 adolescents and adults in the U.S. each year.  Adolescents and young adults have an increased rate of contracting meningococcal disease compared to the general population, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all U.S. cases annually.  According to one study, as many as one out of every four adolescents infected with the disease may die.  Of those who survive, up to 20 percent suffer long-term disabilities, including brain damage, hearing loss, kidney disease, and limb amputation.

The Department of Health wants parents and students to be aware of meningococcal meningitis and the availability of a vaccine to protect against the disease.  Vaccination can help protect against up to 83 percent of the meningococcal disease cases occurring among adolescents and young adults.  Vaccination is not required for school attendance.

More information about meningococcal meningitis and its prevention is available from your child's physician.  In addition, parents are urged to speak to their children about good hygiene and not sharing personal items that may help transmit the disease.

There is additional information available on the following web sites:

• Washington State Department of Health Immunization Program:
  Meningococcal disease information:  http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/Immunize/meningococcal.htm

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
  Meningococcal disease information:
  http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mening.pdf
  Disease Information:
  http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/meningococcal_g.htm

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center:
  http://www.chop.edu/vaccine/images/vec_mening_tear.pdf

• National Meningitis Association:
  http://www.nmaus.org/programs/pta/index.htm

In 2005, the Washington State Legislature passed a law requiring schools to provide meningococcal information to parents/guardians of students beginning with sixth grade entry.  This legislation is effective July 24, 2005.

This complete text of the law can be found at http://www1.leg.wa.gov/

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