Meningococcal

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating “one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in ...

We invite you to join the discussion on Facebook and Twitter. Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. About half of the cases were reportedamong Hispanic men.

Florida is grappling with outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis and bloodstream infections, as well as monkeypox on top of rising Covid cases.

There are 142 cases of this viral infection (orthopoxvirus) identified so far in the US with 13 in Florida. Cases of Covid are also rising there with a high risk of transmission (351/100k). Health departments—especially Florida’s—are facing numerous concurrent challenges. This outbreak is coming at a difficult time, with public health departments stretched thin and an outbreak of monkeypox requiring attention nationally. A somewhat higher rate is seen in outbreak settings. A purplish rash due to hemorrhage is a warning of impending shock. One is meningitis, with classic symptoms of headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, and light sensitivity (photophobia). The second is a bloodstream infection from the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, which can be fulminant and lead to shock and death within hours. Early treatment is critical in either to prevent death.

Federal and state health officials in Florida are looking into an illness cause by bacteria called meningococcal, which has killed 6 so far according to the ...

In Florida, anyone can get a MenACWY vaccine at no cost at any county health department during the outbreak," the CDC said. "People can find a meningococcal vaccine by contacting their doctor’s office, pharmacy, community health center, or local health department. The CDC is reporting 24 cases of meningococcal in the United States with 6 deaths among gay and bisexual men

After seven gay and bisexual men have died in the state in the past six months. As LGBTQ pride events continue throughout the month, the CDC is urging ...

As LGBTQ pride events continue throughout the month, the CDC is urging people to get vaccinated against meningococcal disease. With a large number of pride events scheduled throughout the month, CDC doctors are urging gay and bisexual men in Florida to get vaccinated against meningococcal disease. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating what it calls one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U-S history, and urging vaccinations after at least seven people have died in Florida so far this year.

The findings of this study, which used insurance claims data for patients 2 years and older to determine rates of meningococcal A, C, W, Y vaccine uptake, ...

“Our goal was to examine uptake and time to receipt of the MenACWY vaccine among people with a new diagnosis of HIV.” The following factors were significantly associated with a greater chance of having receiving the MenACWY vaccine: The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ recommendation for vaccination among PLWH against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y was formally adopted in 2016, the study authors noted, and regular boosters follow the 2-dose primary series. Limitations include including patients starting from January 2016 even though the MenACWY recommendations were not adopted until November 2016. This patient population was mostly male (84.8%), adult (mean [SD] age, 38.8 [12.5] years), and Black (22.6%) or White (36.6%). “To our knowledge, no US studies have reported coverage of the MenACWY vaccine among people with HIV, although 2 US studies have reported coverage among men who have sex with men,” the authors wrote, “with results according to HIV status.” Strengths of these findings include their focus those with a new HIV diagnosis—“so we could study time to vaccination”—and the geographic distribution of the study population. Just over 16% of patients received their initial MenACWY dose in the first 2 years after their HIV diagnosis, and this jumped to 66.2% for those receiving their second dose within a year of the first dose—overage an average 33 months of follow-up. Despite there being a increased risk of meningococcal disease among persons living with HIV (PLWH), uptake of the meningococcal A, C, W, Y (MenACWY) vaccine remains at suboptimal levels among those with a new diagnosis, according to 2016-2018 insurance claims data for patients 2 years and older who have a new HIV diagnosis. Among their 1208-patient cohort, everyone had 1 or more inpatients claims or 2 or more outpatient claims in the Optum Research Database in connection with their new HIV diagnosis and 12 or more months before and 6 or more months after that diagnosis of continuous insurance coverage. “In the United States, individuals with HIV infection have been recommended to receive a 2-dose series of the MenACWY vaccine since 2016 owing to their increased risk of meningococcal disease,” the authors wrote. The findings of this study, which used insurance claims data for patients 2 years and older to determine rates of meningococcal A, C, W, Y vaccine uptake, points to the need for more education, the authors said.

After seven gay and bisexual men have died in the state in the past six months. As LGBTQ pride events continue throughout the month, the CDC is urging ...

As LGBTQ pride events continue throughout the month, the CDC is urging people to get vaccinated against meningococcal disease. With a large number of pride events scheduled throughout the month, CDC doctors are urging gay and bisexual men in Florida to get vaccinated against meningococcal disease. After seven gay and bisexual men have died in the state in the past six months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating “one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U.S. ...

The CDC is investigating "one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U.S. history."

The outbreak has resulted in at least 26 cases and seven deaths, the CDC reports.

The measure now heads to President Biden, who is expected to sign it into law. - Specifically, the CDC is recommending gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men get a meningococcal vaccine if they live in Florida, or talk with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated if they are traveling there. The CDC issued a warning Thursday about "one of the worst outbreaks" of meningococcal disease in U.S. history, among gay and bisexual men in Florida.

The federal agency says this is one of the worst outbreaks of this disease among these groups in US history, and has public health officials concerned as ...

People can get meningococcal vaccines through their provider’s office, pharmacy, community health center, or local health department. The meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccines Menactra and Menveo are indicated for people 2 months of age up to 55 years depending on the vaccine. “Getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease is the best way to prevent this serious illness, which can quickly become deadly,” said José R. Romero, MD, director, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a statement. Symptoms can first appear as a flu-like illness, but typically worsen very quickly. CDC reminds the public that symptoms can appear suddenly and include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea/vomiting, or a dark purple rash. Meningococcal disease can affect anyone and can be deadly and includes infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) and bloodstream.

A major outbreak of meningococcal disease is spreading in Florida. The bacteria causes infections that can quickly become deadly, and the CDC is now ...

The strain Jimmy had is not the same one causing the current outbreak in the state. "It was the worst thing anybody can go through and continues to be. "The estimate is that 70% of people that have no treatment whatsoever will die from this infection," Roberts said. You should go ahead and seek some care," said Roberts. It is not just gay and bisexual men who are at risk, everyone can contract the disease. The infection can come on quickly and is often deadly.