👉 Meningococcemia is a type of bacterial infection that can occur in the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is also known as the plague bacteria. This bacterium enters the body through the nose or mouth when someone sneezes or coughs and then spreads to the brain and other parts of the body. Meningococcemia can cause serious symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, trouble breathing