Suspected case: Clinical purpura fulminans in the absence of a positive blood culture; or Gram-negative diplococci, not yet identified, isolated from a normally sterile body site (e.g., blood or CSF)
Probable case: Detection of N. meningitidis antigenin formulin-fixed tissue by immunohistochemistry (IHC); or in CSF by latex agglutination
Confirmed case: A suspected or probable case plus: *Isolation of meningitidis from a sterile site (CSF, blood) or Positive test for meningitides from a sterile site (CSF, blood)
LABORATORY CONFIRMATION: