[ad_1]
An outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida has caused at least 26 cases of serious illness, an official from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday. Seven of the cases were fatal, CDC epidemiologist Sam Crowe said.
The epidemic primarily affects men who have sex with men; at least 24 of the cases and six of the deaths were among gay and bisexual men, the agency said in a news release. About half of the cases occurred in Hispanic men.
New cases are still being reported. Dr. Crowe said the epidemic “is going on too much”.
Caused by a bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis, the disease is spread through close or prolonged contact, typically through activities such as kissing. It can present as meningitis – inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord – or septicemia, which is an infection of the bloodstream. Molecular epidemiologist Jill Roberts of the University of South Florida said the disease is rare but serious and can cause death literally overnight.
The number of cases is not very high,” he said. “However, any case of meningitis is considered something we’re really worried about.”
When caught early, the disease can be treated with antibiotics. It’s also preventable with a vaccine, and health officials are urging at-risk populations, especially men who have sex with men and live in Florida, to get vaccinated.
Dr. “We want to make sure gay and bisexual men are aware of the deadly epidemic in Florida and how easy it is to protect themselves, namely vaccination,” said Crowe.
Vaccination is also often recommended for college students and people with HIV or a compromised immune system.
Although the current outbreak has primarily affected men who have had sex with men, the disease can affect anyone who has had close contact with an infected person.
Dr. “Anyone can get the disease, regardless of sexual orientation, age, race,” Crowe said.
Dr. Florida first reported an increase in meningococcal disease to the CDC in late January, Crowe said. The state typically sees 20 to 25 cases of the disease per year; He said 44 cases have been reported so far this year in Florida. (Not all of these cases are linked to the current outbreak; a small cluster of unrelated cases occurred among college students in February and March, and there were other isolated cases, Dr. Crowe said.)
Many recent cases of monkeypox It has also been detected in men who have sex with men, but this disease can also affect anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. Experts said it’s critical not to stigmatize men who have sex with men.
Dr. “It’s in everyone’s interest to make sure people feel very comfortable going forward and get the care they need,” said Roberts.
Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, headache, stiff neck, and rash. People who develop these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, the scientists said.
[ad_2]
Source link