. About one in every ten people in the U.S. are thought to carry the bacteria without feeling sick at any one time, usually in the back of their throat. But sometimes, the bacteria can invade other parts of the body and cause life-threatening illness. It can reach the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause meningitis, for instance, or seep into the bloodstream, which can trigger a systematic overreaction of the immune system, known as sepsis.
Most cases have been reported in eastern Virginia, and testing has found that the cases are being caused by highly genetically related strains of the bacteria. But officials have not identified a common risk factor for its spread as of yet. Generally, these bacteria are transmitted via a person’s saliva and spit, such as through kissing or
sharing personal items like lipstick. Meningococcal bacteria are not as contagious as other respiratory infections like the flu or covid-19, though, and it tends to require close, prolonged contact for transmission to happen.