In a major break through, a vaccine for meningitis B, caused by bacterial infection, has performed well in a preliminary trial in Britain. Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. Vaccines are available against meningitis A and C, but none yet exists for meningitis B, the leading cause of bacterial meningitis throughout the world. Annually there are between 20,000-80,000 cases of meningitis B all over the world and of these 10 per cent result in death. Meningococcal disease, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, affects the membranes around the brain and spinal cord and may produce septicaemia, or blood poisoning. Without quick treatment, death can occur within 24 hours. Pharmaceutical company Novartis tested its MenB vaccine on 150 British infants, who were immunised at two, four, six months and on completing a year. A month after the third treatment, the vaccine produced immunity against three meningitis B strains in 85 per cent, 89 per cent and 96 per cent of the children.