As a meningococcal illness strain starts to spread around the United States, the Centers for illness Control and Prevention have sent out a warning to medical professionals regarding bacterial infections.
The bacterium that causes meningococcal illness is called Neisseria meningitidis. According to the CDC, a dangerous infection known as meningitis can develop in the bloodstream, spinal cord, and brain lining, even though this condition can have fatal symptoms.
The CDC noted in the advisory that 140 cases of a certain Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y have been detected in 2024. This strand focuses on individuals aged 30 to 60 years, although meningitis usually affects newborns and young adults. Individuals with HIV or those who identify as Black and African Americans are more vulnerable to this particular form of meningitis.
There are six recognized serogroups of meningitis: A, B, C, W, X, and Y. The CDC states, B, C, W, and Y, are the four groupings that are present in the United States.
According to the CDC, the greatest number of type Y infections since 2014 was recorded in 2023, with 422 cases.
Furthermore, Virginia is also struggling with a meningococcal disease type Y outbreak that has spread throughout the entire state. According to the Virginia Department of Health, “there have been 35 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease associated with this outbreak, including 6 deaths,” since June 2022.
Meningococcal illness types
Two different kinds of infections can result from meningococcal illness. These are meningococcal meningitis and meningococcal septicemia, a bloodstream illness also referred to as meningococcemia, according to the CDC.
For both infections, keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
Meningitis symptoms
- High temperature.
- Headache.
- rigid neck.
- nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Fear of photos.
- changed state of mind.
Meningococcal bloodstream infection symptoms
- Hands and feet chilly.
- a case of diarrhea.
- Fever and chills.
- fatigue.
- breathing quickly.
- extreme pains and aches.
- Vomiting.
An infection that has progressed may cause a dark purple rash.