Dozens Sickened, Five Killed by Meningococcal Disease Outbreak in Virginia

An illustration of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria

An outbreak of meningococcal disease in Virginia has sickened dozens of people and killed at least five, local health officials reported this week. Though severe cases are typically rare, the state has seen a noticeable increase over the past year. The bacterial infection is vaccine-preventable, and most cases during this outbreak have been unvaccinated.

Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis (a relative of the bacteria that cause gonorrhea). About one in every ten people in the U.S. are thought to carry the bacteria without feeling sick at any one time, usually in the back of their throat. But sometimes, the bacteria can invade other parts of the body and cause life-threatening illness. It can reach the lining of the brain and spinal cord and cause meningitis, for instance, or seep into the bloodstream, which can trigger a systematic overreaction of the immune system, known as sepsis. There are six broad groups of these bacteria that can sicken humans, with three groups (B, C, and Y) being the most commonly seen in the U.S.

Read more

• Starfield's Controversial Missing PC Feature Already Modded Into The Game

• The 8 Unbreakable Rules of Self-Checkout Etiquette

• What’s Included (And What’s Not) In Cyberpunk 2077’s Free 2.0 Update

• USPS Isn't Paying 45,000 Rural Postal Workers This Week

• I'm Transfixed By Kevin Costner's Ex-Wife's Arguments for $175K a Month in Child Support

Though these vaccines aren’t 100% effective at preventing infection, they have led to a continued decline in meningococcal disease in the U.S. since their introduction, especially among teens. Notably, all but one case in the Virginia outbreak so far has been unvaccinated.

Officials say that the risk of meningococcal disease remains low for the general public. But they are warning people during this outbreak to practice good hand hygiene, avoid sharing items like vapes or toothbrushes, and get properly vaccinated if they’re not up to date.

More from Gizmodo

• Ford Is Offering Nearly $3,000 To Maverick Buyers Who Never Had Their Orders Filled: Report

• 15-Year-Old Boy Says DeSantis Campaign Manhandled Him for Asking Question That Went Viral

• 17 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Playing Starfield

• Designer Says The Only Way To Fix The Cybertruck Is To Scrap It And Start Over

• Weary Ridiculousness writers include "please make other shows" in their list of union demands

Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Click here to read the full article.