March 29, 2024 – The CDC is warning health care providers within the United States to be alert for a rare bacterial disease that may result in meningitis and possibly death.
There were 422 cases of one of these invasive meningococcal disease within the U.S. last 12 months, essentially the most since 2014, the CDC said Thursday Health alert. There have been 143 cases to date this 12 months, meaning the variety of infections is anticipated to surpass case numbers from 2023 onwards.
Most cases last 12 months weren’t meningitis (inflammation of the brain and spinal cord), but no less than 17 people died.
“Cases caused by this strain occur disproportionately in people ages 30 to 60 (65%), in Black or African American people (63%), and in people with HIV (15%),” the CDC said.
The CDC said health care providers must have “heightened suspicion of meningococcal disease,” particularly in groups which are disproportionately affected; Note that patients may not experience symptoms typical of meningitis. and ensure individuals are up to this point on meningococcal vaccines.
Four subgroups of meningococcal bacteria are known to flow into within the United States: B, C, W and Y. The CDC health alert refers to cases attributable to a particular strain of the bacteria, ST-1466, which belongs to the Y -subgroup belongs.
These infections are attributable to a strain of Meningococci Bacteria that may result in meningitis, the CDC said.
However, the agency warns that “patients with invasive meningococcal disease may have a bloodstream infection or septic arthritis and may not have symptoms typical of meningitis.”
Symptoms of a meningitis infection include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting. The bacteria may cause a bloodstream infection with symptoms resembling chills, cold hands and feet, diarrhea and a dark purple rash.
Symptoms can worsen quickly and it's essential to hunt immediate treatment with antibiotics, says the CDC.
“Survivors may experience long-term effects such as deafness or amputation of the extremities,” says the Federal Health Office.
Meningitis vaccines are routinely really helpful for adolescents and folks with health problems resembling HIV.