What it means: cases of invasive meningococcal disease confirmed by laboratory tests, the main cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia in children and young people. In 1998-99 there were 2,573 cases and 224 deaths; vaccines against the C strain (from 1999), the B strain for babies (from 2015) and the ACWY strains for teenagers (from 2015) have cut cases by −86.5%. Cases fell to a very low level during Covid restrictions. Meningitis caused by other bacteria or by viruses is not included, as there is no comparable national series. Each year runs from July to June. Shown for context.

Source: UKHSA, invasive meningococcal disease in England, annual report 2025 to 2026, supplementary tables 2 and 7.