The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) as we speak 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 probably the most US serogroup Y circumstances since 2014, and up to now circumstances this 12 months are monitoring forward of final 12 months’s numbers. As of March 25, the CDC has obtained stories of 143 circumstances for 2024, 62 greater than the 81 circumstances reported right now final 12 months.
Many of the circumstances contain a selected meningococcal pressure, ST 1466, which is disproportionately affecting adults ages 30 to 60, Black or African American individuals, and people with HIV.
Many of the sufferers with ST 1466 infections final 12 months had signs aside from meningitis, particularly bacteremia but additionally septic arthritis in some cases.
The CDC recorded 422 circumstances in all of 2023. Amongst 74 sufferers with identified outcomes, 17 (18%) died, a better case-fatality fee than the 11% seen for serogroup Y from 2017 to 2021.
MenACWY reminder for advisable teams
The CDC mentioned ST 1466 has contributed to beforehand reported will increase in meningococcal illness in individuals with HIV. Of 24 HIV sufferers contaminated with the subtype in 2022 and 2023, solely 4 had obtained the vaccine towards 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 obtained 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 individuals advisable to obtain the MenACWY vaccine are vaccinated, particularly these with HIV.