Meningococcal Disease Outbreak In VA Kills 3, Prompting Public Warning

RICHMOND, VA — An outbreak of meningococcal disease in eastern Virginia has killed three people and sickened several others, prompting public health officials to issue a warning to the rest of the state.

According to the alert released by the Virginia Department of Health on Wednesday, 12 cases of invasive meningococcal disease type Y have been reported in the state since June, prompting officials to declare an outbreak in September 2022.

All cases were discovered in Hampton Roads and most were detected in unvaccinated Black adults between 30 and 60 years of age, health officials said. However, they believe the strain is circulating more widely in Virginia and other states.

Three people died from complications associated with the disease, officials said, adding the deaths indicate the strain "might cause more severe illness than is usually seen in type Y cases."

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, according to the Virginia Department of Public Health. In rare cases, those infected can develop serious forms of illness including meningitis or septicemia.

Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to bright light and a possible rash.

The disease spreads from person to person by exchanging respiratory and throat secretions through kissing, coughing or sneezing directly into the face of others. It also spreads by sharing cups, water bottles, eating utensils, chapstick and vapes.

The disease is treatable with antibiotics provided it's detected and diagnosed early, officials said.

Typically, adolescents and teenagers receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 11 or 12 years old followed by a booster dose at 16. Among those sickened during the outbreak, 11 people were unvaccinated and one was only partially vaccinated, officials said.

Those considered high-risk for meningococcal disease include people living with HIV, those whose spleen is damaged or removed, people with sickle cell disease, anyone with a rare immune condition called "complement deficiency" or anyone taking a type of drug called a "complement inhibitor," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Virginians should contact their local health department with questions.