Meningococcal disease is a severe bacterial infection.
When the infection occurs in the blood it is called meningococcemia. It is a relatively rare disease and usually occurs as a single case. Clusters of cases or outbreaks are rare in the United States. Anyone can get meningococcal disease, but it is more common in infants and children. The meningococcus germ is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person.