Meningococcal disease refers to the disease problems that meningococcus causes.
The bacteria is often found in the noses and throats of healthy people who have no symptoms of illness. However, they as well as sick people can spread the disease through coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and saliva. It takes 1 to 10 days from the time a person is exposed to the bacteria for symptoms to occur. The infection is diagnosed by culturing the patient's blood or spinal fluid. People sick with meningococcal disease require hospitalization.