Can meningococcal disease be prevented?
The risk of spread of meningococcal disease from person to person can be decreased once the disease has been identified by giving close contacts of that person antibiotics to clear the organism from their throat.Some forms of meningococcal disease can be prevented by vaccine. Vaccines effective against meningococcal groups A, C, Y and W135 are available in New Zealand. Outbreaks of group A and C meningococcal disease have been successfully controlled by immunisation programmes. The strain of meningococcal disease causing most cases in New Zealand is a strain of group B. The MeNZB™ vaccine is available for people considered to be at high risk.The MeNZB™ vaccine will not protect against other strains of meningococcal disease.
