An outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida has caused at least 26 cases of serious illness, an official with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Seven of the cases have been fatal, said Sam Crowe, a CDC epidemiologist.
The outbreak mainly affects men who have sex with men; At least 24 of the cases and six of the deaths have been between gay and bisexual men, the agency said in a press release. About half of the cases have occurred in Hispanic men.
New cases are still being reported. The outbreak is “very ongoing,” Dr. Crowe said.
The disease, which is caused by a bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, is usually transmitted by close or prolonged contact, through activities such as kissing. It can manifest as meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, or sepsis, an infection of the bloodstream. The disease is still rare, but it is serious and can cause death “literally overnight,” said Jill Roberts, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of South Florida.
“The number of cases is not very high,” he added. “However, any case of meningitis is really considered something that worries us.”
When detected early, the disease can be treated with antibiotics. It can also be prevented with a vaccine, and health officials are asking at-risk populations, especially men who have sex with men who live in Florida, to get vaccinated.
“We want to make sure that gay and bisexual men are aware of the deadly outbreak in Florida and how easy it is to protect themselves, that is, vaccination,” Dr. Crowe said.
Vaccination is also often recommended for college students and people with HIV or compromised immune systems.
Although the current outbreak has mainly affected men who have sex with men, the disease can affect anyone who has close contact with an infected person.
“Anyone can get the disease regardless of sexual orientation, age, race,” Dr. Crowe said.
Florida first reported to the CDC about an increase in meningococcal disease in late January, Dr. Crowe said. The state typically sees 20 to 25 cases of the disease annually; So far this year, 44 cases have been reported in Florida, he said. (Not all of these cases are related to the current outbreak; there was a small group of unrelated cases among college students in February and March, Dr. Crowe said, and there were other isolated cases.)
Many recent cases of monkeypox have also been identified in men who have sex with men, but this disease can also affect anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. According to experts, it is crucial not to stigmatize men who have sex with men.
“It’s in everyone’s best interest to make sure people feel very comfortable presenting themselves and that they get the care they need,” Dr. Roberts.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, headache, stiff neck, and rash. People who develop these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately, scientists said.