Florida Meningococcal Disease Outbreak: CDC Urges Gay Men To Get Vaccine
newsweek.comgay and bisexual men in U.S. history."Twenty-six cases and seven deaths from meningococcal disease have been recorded in Florida in recent weeks, of which 24 cases and six deaths were in gay and bisexual men.The CDC said in a statement that the outbreak of meningococcal infections was "primarily among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV.
Recent data show that about half of the cases associated with this outbreak are among Hispanic men."This outbreak is mostly affecting people who live in Florida, but has also affected some people who have traveled to Florida."Meningococcal infections include meningitis (an infection of the meninges membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord) and bloodstream sepsis.
If left untreated, both these conditions can kill within days. Two serogroups—subspecies of the meningococcal bacteria—known as B and C have been recorded in the Florida outbreak.Serogroup C is the strain currently affecting large numbers of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
There is also an outbreak in Leon County of serogroup B meningococcal disease among college students.The bacteria is spread through prolonged close contact involving sharing respiratory or throat secretions, such as saliva or spit.
