How long are people with meningococcal disease contagious?
People are contagious as long as bacteria are present in the nose or throat, especially during the three days before symptoms begin. Those exposed to people with meningococcal disease seven or more days before the infected person becomes ill are not likely to become ill themselves. How common is meningococcal disease? The rate of meningococcal disease in Oregon in 2007 was 0.8 cases per 100,000, Oregonians (compared to 0.3 per 100,000 Americans). However, while meningococcal disease is more common in Oregon than it is in the United States as a whole, it is still a rare disease that has been getting rarer; the incidence rate has decreased 75% since 1996. Disease incidence is typically highest during December through March. It occurs most frequently in children less than 5 years old, (3.8 cases per 100,000 in 2007) with a peak incidence in children aged 6-12 months. What happens when a case of meningococcal disease occurs? Local health departments are notified when a doctor suspects meni
