FRIDAY, March 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- There has been a rise in invasive meningococcal disease, mainly attributable to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y, according to an alert issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There were 422 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in 2023, the most seen since 2014. So far this year, 143 cases have already been reported, meaning meningitis infections in 2024 will likely surpass 2023 numbers, the CDC added.
Most of the cases last year did not involve meningitis, though at least 17 patients died. The infections were more common in adults ages 30 to 60 years, in Black people, and in people who have HIV, the report revealed.
The CDC alert comes after the Virginia Department of Health warned of a rise in cases linked to the same rare, serious form of meningococcal disease back in 2022.
While antibiotics can quell the infection, quick treatment is critical, the CDC said. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of infected people die, and survivors sometimes suffer deafness or amputations.
Luckily, there are vaccines that shield against meningococcal disease. The CDC recommends that all children get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, which protects against the rising strain, around the time they enter middle school. Because vaccine protection fades, the CDC also recommends a booster dose at age 16 years. Shots are also recommended for people at higher risk, like those living where an outbreak is occurring or those with HIV infection or other immune-compromising health conditions.
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