IMMEDIATELY REPORTABLE DISEASE: Any suspected case should be reported immediately by telephone to the Local Health Officer and by the Health Officer to the State Department of Health and Senior Services; include clinical and laboratory information supporting the diagnosis for appropriate investigation and control recommendations.

CLINICAL DESCRIPTION
The infection manifests most commonly as meningitis and/or meningococcemia that may progress rapidly to purpura fulminans, shock and death. However other manifestations might be observed (e.g. septic joint). The incubation period varies from 2 to 10 days, commonly 3 to 4 days.

CASE CLASSIFICATION

1. CONFIRMED
   A clinically compatible case, AND:
• Isolation of Neisseria meningitidis from a normally sterile site (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or less commonly joint, pleural, or pericardial fluid).
  
  
2. PROBABLE
   
   A clinically compatible case, AND:
   
• Gram negative diplococci observed in CSF or blood,
  
• Positive antigen test in CSF, OR
  
• Clinical purpura fulminans
  
  
3. POSSIBLE
   
   Not used

NOTE Isolates of Neisseria meningitidis are to be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, P.O. Box 361, John Fitch Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08625-0361.

What you should know about Meningococcal meningitis?