Toward a meningitis-free world.

Meningococcal meningitis is a devastating disease that is often fatal. Vaccines against the five major meningococcal serogroups causing disease are about to become available, a conjugate vaccine against meningococcus A is in use for mass vaccination in Africa, and a protein-based vaccine against meningococcal B is ready for licensure. With the availability of these new vaccines, the world can finally be rid of meningococcal meningitis, thus rewriting a new chapter in medical history.