Meningococcal bacteria, spread through coughing or kissing, can cause meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and a blood infection called septicaemia. 'INCREASED IMPERATIVE'While they are vastly different in symptoms and transmission, the meningitis and gonorrhoea bacteria are a very close genetic match, the researchers said. Experts recently noticed a tantalising decline in gonorrhoea after meningococcal B vaccine campaigns. The vaccine was estimated to have reduced gonorrhoea cases by 31 percent — a level that would decrease the prevalence of the disease by about a third within 15 years. Some of the same molecules were used, however, to manufacture another meningococcal vaccine that is still in use.

Source: Daily Nation July 10, 2017 22:52 UTC