What are meningococci?

Meningococci are bacteria found in people’s nose or throat. These bacteria do not usually make people ill. People can only become seriously ill if the bacteria get into the bloodstream or nervous system. There are various types of meningococci. Type B is most common in the Netherlands.

What are the symptoms of meningococcal disease?

If the meningococci bacteria get into the bloodstream or nervous system, you or your child could very quickly become very ill. The first symptoms often are:

• nasal cold
• listlessness
• flu-like symptoms

The disease becomes much worse soon after that: you or your child could have a high fever, or your body temperature could drop very low. The main symptoms of meningitis and/or blood poisoning (septicaemia) are:

• severe headache
• stiff neck (unable to move chin towards chest)
• confusion
• vomiting
• a spotty red or purple rash that does not become lighter in colour if you press on it

Meningitis may have different symptoms in babies. They could also suffer from:

• drowsiness
• decreased appetite (not drinking well)
• pain while changing the nappy (loud crying when their legs are lifted)
• seizures
• rolling eyes
• pale, greyish skin
• diarrhoea

Meningitis and blood poisoning can become very serious within a very short time frame – just a few hours. You or your child could die from it. If you see these symptoms, contact your GP immediately.

Who is more likely to get meningococcal disease? 

Small children, teens, young adults and smokers are more likely to carry the bacteria than older people and non-smokers.

Meningococcal disease is mainly dangerous to small children, teens and young adults (up to 25 years old). People who do not have a spleen, or who have severely impaired immunity, could also become seriously ill.

How does meningococcal disease spread?

The meningococci bacteria are found in people’s nose or throat. If they cough or sneeze, small droplets are released into the air. These droplets could also be transferred during kissing or talking loudly. If you breathe in droplets that contain meningococci bacteria, the bacteria also enter your nose and throat.

Even if you have the bacteria in your nose or throat, they will not usually make you ill. If the bacteria get into the bloodstream or nervous system, you could become very ill.

The bacteria could stay in your nose or throat for weeks or even months. That means you can infect others. The time between exposure and illness is usually 3 to 4 days, but could take as long as 10 days.

How can I prevent meningococcal disease?

There are vaccinations against various types of meningococci. Since 2002, babies are vaccinated against meningococci type C at the age of 14 months through the National Immunisation Programme. In 2018, this vaccine was replaced by a vaccine that protects against four types of meningococci: A, C, W and Y.  The protection offered by this vaccine gradually wanes over time. The longer it has been since the child was vaccinated, the less effective the vaccine-induced protection is. That is why children are offered this vaccine again at the age of 14 years. 
After this vaccination, teens are protected for at least 10 years. This means that children have effective protection during the periods that they are at the highest risk of becoming ill or very ill from meningococci.

There is also a vaccine against meningococci type B. It is not included in the National Immunisation Programme, but is available at your own expense.

You can also reduce the risk of infection by practising good hygiene. This includes washing hands with soap and water. See our hygiene tips for more suggestions.

If a person develops meningitis or blood poisoning from a meningococcal infection, the doctor will notify the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD). The GGD will then check if the patient’s contacts should also be treated with antibiotics to prevent them from becoming ill.

Is there any treatment for meningococcal disease?

If meningococcal disease is suspected, the patient will be admitted to hospital immediately. Once admitted, the patient will receive IV antibiotics and extra medical care as soon as possible.

How common is meningococcal disease in the Netherlands?

Since the introduction of the meningococcal C vaccine in 2002 and the meningococcal ACWY vaccine in 2018, there have been far fewer people in the Netherlands with meningococcal disease caused by types A, C, W or Y.

In 2001, 277 people developed meningococcal C, but this has decreased to under 10 per year. Since 2018, the number of people who had meningococcal W has also dropped significantly. There are about 5 to 10 cases of meningococcal W per year now. In addition, between 5 and 10 people have meningococcal type Y or some other type of meningococcal disease every year. Even people who are not vaccinated are less likely to become ill. This is because the bacteria cannot spread as easily.

Since the late 1990s, the number of people who had meningococcal B has dropped significantly. The National Immunisation Programme does not include coverage for this type of meningococcal disease. Although infections involving meningococcal B are currently rising, the numbers are still far lower than in the 1990s. In those years, there were an average of 480 patients with meningococcal B per year, compared to only 121 in 2024.