Why is the menigococal virus in gay men

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The U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Florida Department of Health are urging men who have sex with men to get vaccinated for meningitis amid "one of the worst outbreaks of meningococcal disease among gay and bisexual men in U. Twenty-six cases and seven deaths from meningococcal disease have been recorded in Florida in recent weeks, of which 24 cases and six deaths were in gay and bisexual men.

Meningococcal Disease Is Rising Among People Living With HIV

The CDC said in a statement that the outbreak of meningococcal infections was "primarily among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV. Recent data show that about half of the cases associated with this outbreak are among Hispanic men.

Meningococcal infections include meningitis an infection of the meninges membrane lining of the brain and spinal cord and bloodstream sepsis. If left untreated, both these conditions can kill within days. Two serogroups—subspecies of the meningococcal bacteria—known as B and C have been recorded in the Florida outbreak.

Serogroup C is the strain currently affecting large numbers of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. There is also an outbreak in Leon County of serogroup B meningococcal disease among college students. The bacteria is spread through prolonged close contact involving sharing respiratory or throat secretions, such as saliva or spit.

Although it is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease because it is not transferred via sexual bodily fluids such as semenit can be spread through sex or kissing. People with HIV are most vulnerable to meningococcal infections, as they are often immunocompromised.

Neisseria meningitidis bacteria are responsible for these outbreaks, but many people have the bacteria living inside them without getting ill. About 1 in 10 people have these bacteria in the back of their nose and throat, but they will not get sick unless the bacteria gets into the bloodstream or the lining of the brain.

Serogroups B, C, and Y are the most commonly seen in the U. According to the CDC, symptoms of meningococcal infections include a high fever, light sensitivity, headache, stiff neck, nausea or vomiting, or a dark purple rash. It can often be misinterpreted as a hangover, but treatment is required as soon as possible.

Up to 2 in every 10 people who get meningococcal disease die from the infection, but an individual can be saved if they are treated immediately with antibiotics. There can be long-term problems after contracting the bacteria, however, including hearing or vision loss, memory and concentration problems, epilepsy, and even amputation of affected limbs.

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