Alberta Health Services
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Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacteria that can cause meningitis, which is a serious infection of the fluid and lining of the brain and spinal cord, blood, or other parts of the body. Meningitis can lead to lifelong disabilities and death.
Hib is different from influenza (the flu). Hib does not cause influenza, and the vaccines that prevent Hib do not protect against influenza.
You have a higher risk of serious infection if you:
Hib spreads by coughing or sneezing. Some people don’t have symptoms but can still spread the disease.
Antibiotics (medicines that fight bacteria) can be used to treat some infections caused by Hib. But because these infections can be very serious, antibiotics do not always help.
Even with treatment, 1 in 20 children who get bacterial meningitis caused by Hib will die. And about 1 in 3 will have permanent brain damage.
The vaccines that protect against Hib are:
