Seeing the signs.

Invasive meningococcal disease, causing meningitis and/or septicaemia, can kill within hours and leave a significant number of survivors with lifelong disability. Even though there are now three meningococcal vaccines in the U.K. routine immunisation schedule, not all cases will be prevented. There are also other bacterial, viral and fungal causes of meningitis that are not prevented by vaccines, it is too early to assess the impact of recent changes to the schedule and it is vital that everyone is aware of the signs and symptoms, and remains vigilant.