“Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is caused by meningococcal bacteria, and is almost always meningitis or septicaemia (also known as sepsis), less frequently pneumonia or infection in other parts of the body. Although it has been widely known that meningitis and septicaemia can cause death swiftly, recent analysis from a team of researchers at PHE quantified precisely how swiftly the disease acts in different age groups. The research helps highlight the importance of rapid treatment.  This new study shows that for most of those who die of this leading cause of meningitis, the disease comes on suddenly and advances rapidly, with a very limited time window to administer life-saving treatment, underlining the importance of prevention=Vaccine.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)