Adam was a typical sophomore at Michigan State University, enjoying his studies and playing in the school band. But within just a few hours, he was fighting for his life. Meningococcal meningitis- a deadly bacterial infection that commonly attacks teenagers, young adults, and children under five- had struck Adam with no warning. His life was spared, but the disease took many of his fingers and toes. Others haven’t been as lucky. Without knowing it, many college students like Adam harbor an invisible killer- meningococcus- a bacteria that evolves into meningococcal meningitis, a lightning-fast assassin with one of the highest death rates of any infectious disease.

NOVA explores and examines this killer disease, revealing its warning signs, how doctors throughout the world are struggling to control outbreaks, why American health officials haven’t followed Britain’s lead of mass vaccination, as well as what can be done to protect children and college students from needless death and suffering.