The outbreak mainly affects men who have sex with men. At least 24 of the cases and six of the deaths were among homosexual and bisexual men, the agency said in a press release. About half of the cases have occurred in Hispanic men. New cases are still reported. The outbreak is “very ongoing,” Dr. Crowe said. The disease, which is caused by a bacterium, Neisseria meningitidis, is usually transmitted through close or prolonged contact, through activities such as kissing. It can manifest as meningitis – an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord – or sepsis, an infection of the bloodstream. The disease remains rare but is serious and can cause death “literally overnight,” said Jill Roberts, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of South Florida. “The number of cases is not very high,” he added. “However, any case of meningitis is really something to worry about.” When diagnosed early, the disease is treated with antibiotics. It can also be prevented with a vaccine, and health officials are urging people at risk, especially men who have sex with men living in Florida, to get vaccinated. “We want to make sure gay and bisexual men are aware of the deadly outbreak in Florida and how easy it is to protect themselves – that is, the vaccine,” said Dr. Crowe. Vaccination is also often recommended for students and people with HIV or a weakened immune system. Although the current epidemic has mainly affected men who have sex with men, the disease can affect anyone who has close contact with an infected person. “Anyone can get sick, regardless of sexual orientation, age, race,” said Dr. Crowe. Florida first reported the CDC a sharp rise in meningococcal disease in late January, Dr. Crowe said. The state usually sees 20 to 25 cases of the disease per year. So far this year, 44 cases have already been reported in Florida, he said. (Not all of these cases are related to the current outbreak; a small group of unrelated cases occurred among students in February and March, Dr. Crowe said, and there were other isolated cases.) Many of the recent cases of monkey pox have also been reported in men who have sex with men, but this disease can also affect anyone, regardless of sexual orientation. It is crucial that men who have sex with men are not stigmatized, experts said. “It is in everyone’s interest to make sure that people feel very comfortable when they come forward and that they receive the care they need,” said Dr Roberts. Symptoms of meningococcal disease include fever, headache, sore throat and rash. People with these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention, scientists said.
