What is the disease called Hib?

Hib is a bacteria which causes meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain), pneumonia, epiglottitis (suffocating swelling of the throat obstructing breathing), septic arthritis (infection in joints), bacteraemia (bacteria in the blood), cellulitis (skin infections), empyema (pus around the lungs), and permanent deafness, brain damage or death.  Since the vaccine was introduced, there are now just 3–4 cases a year of these seriously ill children, probably one of which is from a fully vaccinated infant (due to his/her immune system, for whatever reason, being less effective). Protection through scheduled immunisations is almost 100 per cent.