What Is Meningococcemia?
3. Causes
The bacteria that are responsible for meningococcemia are very common, and it is thought that around 10% of the population will be carriers of the bacteria. It lives in the upper respiratory tract where it will usually do no harm at all. Of all the people that do carry the bacterium, only a very small percentage will fall ill from it.
Many people will carry the bacteria without being aware of it. The bacterium is spread to other people when an infected person coughs or sneezes, spraying infected droplets of bodily fluids into the atmosphere. The bacterium can also be contracted through close contact with an infected person.
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