Meningococcal meningitis, 11 percent of the people who get it will die, adolescents and young adults are most at risk.

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"Aseptic meningitis is much more common usually caused by a cold virus or common circulating virus. You are sick but can recover fairly well, this is not a medical emergency but needs to be treated," said Dr. Eric Schnakenberg.

The more deadly disease is bacterial meningitis.

"Bacterial meningitis is a bacterial infection that usually starts with either an ear infection or a sinus infection or pneumonia and bacteria get into the blood and in to the brain, that is a life threatening condition that needs to be treated immediately," the doctor explained.

About 2,000 kids each year gets bacterial meningitis, the signs are similar to a cold or flu.

"Fever, chills, headache and stiff neck are classic signs unfortunately they don't occur that often. It usually is a rapid progression from being a little ill to being very unwell in a very short period of time, that makes you think of meningitis," said Schnakenberg.

The illness is treated with antibiotics. If it's not caught in time, even by a few hours, severe problems can occur.

"Meningococcal meningitis, if you survive it, you have a 20 percent chance of having serious neurological problems, deafness, problem with mentation and can also lose a finger and arms," Schnakenberg said.

Transmission occurs with face-to-face contact, for example, sneezing or coughing or playing with each other's toys or drinks. Vaccines are given to prevent this illness.

"There are three vaccines, one is HiB vaccine and the pneumococcal and the meningitis vaccine is given around the age 11 and now we recommend a booster around age 18," said the doctor.