Why do close contacts of a sick person need to be treated?
Close contacts of a person who has meningococcal disease are treated with antibiotics because the bacteria may be spread from the sick person to other people through contact with the saliva (spit) of the sick person. The antibiotics will kill the bacteria and prevent illness. Is there a vaccine to protect me from getting sick? There is a vaccine (shot) against meningococcal disease, but the shot is given only for travel or under certain conditions. Routine childhood shots with meningococcal vaccine are not recommended, and the shot is not known to be effective in children under 2 years of age. Shots are given to travelers who visit countries where meningococcal disease is very common and shots are given if there is an outbreak of meningococcal disease in a community. What should I do if I have had contact with a person who has a meningococcal illness? If you have had close contact with a person who has been diagnosed with a meningococcal illness you should call your health care provide
