3 Dead Following Meningococcal Outbreak in Virginia

Hamilton, Virginia (Google Maps)

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issued an update about a community outbreak of meningococcal which they say is continuing to spread in Eastern Virginia. Out of the 12 cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), three patients have died from complications.

Officials are saying these deaths might indicate that the strain is more severe than first thought. All three deaths occurred within the first week of contracting IMD. VDH warns that IMD is still spreading in Virginia and bordering states.

According to officials, “Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis.” The bacteria spread from person to person through contact including kissing, coughing, sneezing, or sharing eating utensils, cigarettes, or makeup.

VDH believes that there is a high risk of the asymptomatic spread of the disease. The bacterium can also be found in the nose and throat of people without causing disease, the agency stated. According to VDH, in a few rare cases, these patients can develop other serious illnesses, including meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) or septicemia (a bloodstream infection).

In 2022, Australia also saw an outbreak of IMD.

During a 2023 Immunization Coalition Meningococcal Webinar, professor Robert Booy, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Sydney, Australia, explained the reasons behind the rise in cases.

Booy said COVID measures like social distancing, masks, and handwashing prevented infections like meningococcal. Because of less contact, “we incurred an immune debt; we weren’t exposed to all sorts of infections. Now immune systems lost some of their memory, or they never gained that memory … So now we’re having to repay that debt and we’re getting a lot more infection in 2023,” Booy said.

According to Augusta Free Press, all cases in Virginia have been located in Hampton Roads and most are black adults between the ages of 30 and 60. Out of these, 11 patients were not vaccinated for IMD type Y, and one was partially vaccinated.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, normally children under 2 years of age or young adults are most susceptible to this disease.

Diagnosing the disease within the first day or two is crucial for treatment with antibiotics, and signs to look for include, fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright light, and rash.

The VDH encourages people to get the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY), which it says can provide protection against type Y of the disease.

There were also at least 26 cases of IMD in Florida in 2022, most of them among gay men.

Booy said there have been different strains of IMD that have popped up in the UK and Australia and he expects to see more cases in the year ahead.