TO KNOW 1.
Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by a bacteria.
It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2-18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings. Meningococcal disease can also cause blood infections. Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age, and in people with certain medical conditions.