What is Meningococcal disease?
'''Meningococcal disease''', also called '''meningococcal meningitis''', is [[infection]]s caused by the [[bacteria|bacterium]] meningococcus (''Neisseria meningitidis''). If left untreated, the death rate is high. However, it can be prevented by [[vaccine]]s. The disease is best known for causing [[meningitis]]. It also causes blood infection, which then leads to [[sepsis]]. There are over 2,600 cases of bacterial meningitis in the [[United States]] per year. In developing countries, there are over 333,000 cases per year. The case death rate is between ten and twenty percent. Meningococcal disease is not as spreadable as the [[common cold]]. However, it can be passed between people through [[saliva]]. {{Gram-negative proteobacterial diseases}} {{med-stub}} [[Category:Diseases caused by bacteria]]