Meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections can lead to long-lasting health problems—and even death. In fact, meningococcal meningitis resulted in about 171,000 deaths worldwide in 2000. In the United States, there are approximately 125 deaths each year. And the fatality rate of bloodstream infections is up to 40%.

Meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections can lead to permanent consequences, including:

• Hearing loss
  
  
• Seizures
  
  
• Mental retardation
  
  
• Scarring
  
  
• Limb loss