A rare bacterial infection that can invade the nervous system or bloodstream is on the rise in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns.
The infection, known as invasive meningococcal disease, happens when a microbe called Neisseria meningitidis invades the body and causes infection. It's estimated that about 1 in 10 people carry the bacteria in their nose and throat without getting sick, but certain demographics are vulnerable to infection. These include infants; people with medical conditions that weaken the immune system, like HIV; and people who take certain antibody-based drugs.
