The following case definitions will be used:Suspected case: Abrupt fever (>38.5 °C rectal or >38.0 °C axillary) and at least one of the following signs: neck stiffness, floppy neck, bulging fontanelle, convulsions, or other meningeal signsConfirmed case: Isolation or identification of a causative organism (Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae serotype B) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a suspect case by culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or agglutination test