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The Conversation
The Conversation
Una Ren, Senior Scientist in Genomics, New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science

Recent outbreaks highlight the risks of bacterial meningitis – and the need to vaccinate

Students and staff queue to receive antibiotics at the UK University of Kent after an outbreak of meningitis caused the deaths of two people. Carl Court/Getty Images

Outbreaks of bacterial meningococcal disease in England and recent cases in students in New Zealand have raised awareness of this serious and life-threatening disease.

The disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis and presents as meningitis or blood poisoning (septicaemia).

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