The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) at this time warned healthcare suppliers a couple of rise in invasive meningococcal illness, primarily from Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y, with some sufferers having signs that are not typical for meningitis.
In a Well being Alert Community (HAN) discover, the CDC mentioned that, for 2023, it recorded essentially the most US serogroup Y circumstances since 2014, and up to now circumstances this yr are monitoring forward of final yr’s numbers. As of March 25, the CDC has acquired experiences of 143 circumstances for 2024, 62 greater than the 81 circumstances reported at the moment final yr.
Many of the circumstances contain a selected meningococcal pressure, ST 1466, which is disproportionately affecting adults ages 30 to 60, Black or African American folks, and people with HIV.
Many of the sufferers with ST 1466 infections final yr had signs aside from meningitis, particularly bacteremia but additionally septic arthritis in some situations.
The CDC recorded 422 circumstances in all of 2023. Amongst 74 sufferers with recognized outcomes, 17 (18%) died, a better case-fatality price than the 11% seen for serogroup Y from 2017 to 2021.
MenACWY reminder for really helpful teams
The CDC mentioned ST 1466 has contributed to beforehand reported will increase in meningococcal illness in folks with HIV. Of 24 HIV sufferers contaminated with the subtype in 2022 and 2023, solely 4 had acquired the vaccine in opposition to serogroups A, C, W, Y (MenACWY), and, of these, none have been updated with their doses. “So far, no different ST-1466 circumstances have been recognized in individuals who beforehand acquired MenACWY vaccine,” the CDC mentioned.
It urged healthcare suppliers to have a heightened suspicion for meningococcal illness within the disproportionately affected teams, to pay attention to atypical signs, and to make sure that all folks really helpful to obtain the MenACWY vaccine are vaccinated, particularly these with HIV.
