Is meningitis contagious?

[Superduperuper]

We’ve all had vaccinations but my husband came into contact with a client at work in a meeting who’s got meningitis possibly sepsis, been taken to hospital yesterday afternoon. sure what type as only heard it on the grapevine from another colleague. Also unlikely to be able to find out. They were sat next to one another for all yesterday morning. Is it contagious and is there any other precautions we should be taking to minimise any of our household getting it? Sorry if it sounds ignorant, not all that clued up on it.

My understanding lots of people carry a bacteria causing meningitis in their nose. However only a small minority will develop meningitis, usually the immune system fights the germ off

It can be contagious yes. I think you need quite close contact though. Were they eating from shared food plates?

https://www.who.int/health-topics/meningitis

Is your DH immunosuppressed or have other health concerns- diabetes etc?
My understanding is that the vaccine only covers you for some of the many types of meningitis, not all. I'm not sure whether sitting together for a day would be deemed a close contact and warrant prophylactic antibiotics.

Could his work find out the type he has, advise where he was sitting and get medical advice for your DH? Does his work have an occupational health department?

To be safe I would suggest your DH refrain from kissing you or the children for the next week and seek early treatment if he feels unwell.

If it's one of the contagious types, the patient will be asked for a list of contacts and they will be given antibiotics as a precaution.

Yes if it is bacterial they recommend close contacts seek medical advice. My DH caught bacterial meningitis as a child from a class mate.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/meningitis-bacterial-meningitis-meningococcal-disease/management/managing-close-contacts/

My son had bacterial meningitis his wife nursed him in a private room they had tucked him into. She didn't catch it but had tonsillitis badly. So I'd say not

Only IF the colleague is conscious and in a state where he can actually recall who he sat next to etc.

I'd advise your H to take precautions and seek medical treatment at the smallest sign of illness.

There was a small local outbreak when I was a child. Some strains are contagious.

In the US, my DCs all had vaccinations against meningitis at age 17ish ahead of leaving home for university, as required. Many universities will suspend class registration for admitted students until they show proof of vaccination.

@CJ0374 good point!

Depends on the variant. I remember when my sister had a variety in her early 20ies we had to call all the people she had been in contact with to warn them.