According to the Virginia Department of Health, five people died as a consequence of complications from a “rare but serious illness” triggered by a meningococcal disease pandemic sweeping the state.
The government has received reports of 27 instances of the sickness in eastern, central, and southwest Virginia since June 2022, all of which have been linked to the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis type Y.
The majority of case patients, according to the Virginia Department of Health, are Black or African American adults aged 30-60. Only one of the 27 persons infected with Neisseria meningitidis type Y had been immunized against it.
“This development represents three times the expected number of cases during this time period,” the department said in a news release issued on Wednesday.
The strain responsible for this pandemic, according to the Virginia Department of Health, is spreading throughout the nation.
The vast majority of recorded cases have been discovered in eastern Virginia, where an outbreak was first detected in September 2022. Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, the agency’s most recent alarm was in March 2023, and it included three deaths and 12 cases.
Meningococcal disease occurs when and where?
According to a recent CNN report, meningococcal disease refers to any sickness caused by Neisseria meningitidis. This condition may potentially result in meningitis and septicemia (also known as blood poisoning).
Because they involve the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions, kissing, coughing, sneezing, or living in close quarters with someone who is ill are all frequent methods for the bacteria to spread from one person to another.
Headache, fever, nausea or vomiting, brain fog, sensitivity to light, weariness or trouble waking, a stiff neck, and even a skin rash are all potential symptoms that might be confused with the flu or Covid-19.
Anyone experiencing these symptoms, according to medical specialists, should seek urgent medical attention.
A variety of drugs are available to treat bacterial meningitis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize the need of early treatment.
Meningitis prevention and risk reduction
Vaccinations against bacterial and viral meningitis are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In light of the current epidemic, the Virginia Department of Health recommends the following precautions:
- Don’t lend or borrow anything personal to another person.
- Keep adequate hand hygiene.
- Stay away from sick people to prevent becoming sick yourself.
- If you believe you have meningococcal disease, get medical assistance right once.
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) should be administered to adolescents and teenagers at the age of 11 or 12, with a booster dose administered at the age of 15 or 16.
- If you are at a greater risk of meningococcal disease, speak to your doctor about obtaining the MenACWY vaccine.