Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of (a) smoking and (b) passive smoking on the risk of invasive meningococcal disease.

There is established evidence that exposure to tobacco smoke increases the risk of meningococcal disease. Tobacco smoking increases the risk of meningococcal carriage and meningococcal disease by damaging the nasopharyngeal mucosa and suppressing immune responses.

Vaping could plausibly carry similar risks for carriage but the association with increased risk of disease is unknown.

When either active or passive smoking occurs in an enclosed and intimate setting over a prolonged period, the risk of transmission is increased.

The highest risk of transmission is associated with prolonged exposure to droplets of saliva.

Where there has been repeated or prolonged salivary exposure in an enclosed and intimate venue such as a nightclub, the risk is higher.