NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men- it has stopped

[Shiloh]

Source: http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/...eningitis.html

NYC meningitis outbreak hitting HIV-infected men
Thursday September 27, 2012 1:15 PM

NEW YORK (AP) ? A deadly cluster of bacterial meningitis has erupted among HIV-infected gay men in New York City. It's left one person dead in the last month and another in critical condition.

The city's health department on Thursday alerted local doctors about the outbreak. It includes a dozen cases in the last two years. But it seems to have accelerated with four cases in the last four weeks.

Of the 12 total cases, four died...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting HIV-infected men

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6151a4.htm

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
Notes from the Field: Serogroup C Invasive Meningococcal Disease Among Men Who Have Sex With Men ? New York City, 2010?2012
Weekly
January 4, 2013 / 61(51);1048-1048

On September 27, 2012, the New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) alerted health-care providers and the public about 12 cases of invasive serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis disease (SCMD) occurring in NYC since August 2010 among men who have sex with men (MSM). Cases were identified through existing mandatory notifiable disease reporting and classified according to the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists case definitions (1). By December 31, 2012, a total of 18 cases had been identified among MSM. For 2012, the incidence rate of invasive meningococcal disease among MSM aged 18?64 years was 12.6 per 100,000 persons, compared with 0.16 among non-MSM males aged 18?64 years. MSM and non-MSM population denominators were obtained from the 2010 NYC Community Health Survey (2) a telephone-based survey of approximately 10,000 NYC residents.

All 18 patients were hospitalized, and five deaths occurred. The age range among patients was 21?59 years (median: 32 years). Nine lived in Brooklyn, four in Manhattan, two in the Bronx, and two in Queens; one was homeless. Nine were black, and four were Hispanic. Ten were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), including eight of 12 cases reported during 2012. Eleven of 12 isolates were closely related (>85%) by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (3) to a strain from a 2006 SCMD outbreak in Brooklyn (4); the last six out of seven patients' isolates were indistinguishable from each other. At least seven patients had met multiple sexual partners online.

On October 4, 2012, DOHMH recommended administration of meningococcal vaccine to HIV-infected male NYC residents who had intimate contact with any man met online, through a smartphone application, or at a bar or party since September 1, 2012. On November 29, DOHMH expanded its recommendation to HIV-uninfected men with the same high-risk behaviors who reside in areas of Brooklyn where recent cases have clustered. In addition, DOHMH publicized this outbreak among the population at risk through advertising, mass e-mail messages on MSM websites, posters distributed at MSM bars and clubs, and outreach to community leaders and physician's groups.

More information regarding invasive meningococcal disease and this outbreak is available on the CDC and DOHMH websites (5). Public health departments should be alert for cases of SCMD in MSM and should ask SCMD patients about sexual history, travel history (including travel to NYC), and HIV status to help determine if this outbreak is spreading to other juridictions.
Reported by

Don Weiss, MD, Mike Antwi, MPH, Paula Del Rosso, Marie Dorsinville, MPH, Lillian Lee, MS, Ying Lin, PhD, John Kornblum, PhD, Jay K. Varma, MD, New York City Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene. Alison Ridpath, MD, EIS Officer, CDC. Corresponding contributor: Alison Ridpath, aridpath@cdc.gov, 347-396-2669.
References

CDC. Meningococcal disease (Neisseria meningitidis). In: 2012 nationally notifiable diseases and conditions and current case definitions. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2012:70. Available at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/nndss/document/2...efinitions.pdf Adobe PDF file. Accessed December 20, 2012.
New York City Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene. Community Health Survey. New York, NY: New York City Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene; 2012. Available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/sur....shtmlExternal Web Site Icon. Accessed December 21, 2012.
Povic T, Schmink S, Rosenstein NA, et al. Evaluation of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in epidemiological investigations of meningococcal disease outbreaks caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C. J Clin Microbiol 2001;39:75?85.
Weiss D, Stern E, Zimmerman C, et al. Epidemiologic investigation and targeted vaccination initiative in response to an outbreak of meningococcal disease among illicit drug users in Brooklyn, New York. Clin Infect Dis 2009;48:894?901.
CDC. Meningococcal disease. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2012. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal. Accessed December 20, 2012.

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/03/...among-gay-men/
(click above for audio)

NYC Warns Of ?Absolutely Terrifying? Meningitis Outbreak, Urges Vaccination Among Gay Men
17 Confirmed Cases Since 2012; 7 Reported Deaths Since 2010
March 6, 2013 7:38 PM

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) ? The New York City Department of Health has issued a new vaccination recommendation for men at risk of contracting a serious and potentially deadly strain of meningitis.

The outbreak of meningitis among gay men has sickened four people already this year..

...The original Health Department warning was issued for HIV-positive men.

But now the city says all men who are intimate with other men they?ve met on a website or an app or at a bar or a party need to get vaccinated now...

[sharon sanders]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

NYC Updates MSM Meningitis Warning



Credit NYC Department of Health


# 6989


Last October, in NYC: The Other Meningitis Outbreak, we looked at an early warning issued by the NYC health department toMen who are HIV-infected and who have had intimate contact with another man met through a website, digital application (“app”), or at a bar or party since September 1, 2012 – who may have been exposed to meningitis.

At the time, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provided the following recommendation.

Health Department Recommends Vaccination for HIV-Positive Men at High Risk of Meningitis
The Health Department issued recommendations today for vaccinating against invasive meningococcal disease – commonly known as meningitis – after a spike of cases reported over the past five weeks.

In January we saw an MMWR report (seeMMWR: Invasive Meningococcal Disease Among MSM In New York City) and an expansion of vaccination recommendations to include:

. . . for men, regardless of HIV status, who have had intimate contact with another man that he met through a website, digital application (“App”), or at a bar or party since September 1, 2012 AND live in the following neighborhoods: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Dumbo, East New York, Prospect Heights and Williamsburg.

Yesterday, after recording four new cases since the first of the year, NYC issued a new Physician Health Alert (HAN)(PDF) and press release expanding their vaccination recommendations.

First from the HAN notice.

2012 ALERT # 5


UPDATE: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex with Men,Four New Cases Reported in 2013, Expanded Vaccine Recommendations
Please Share this Alert with All Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Primary Care Physicians, HIV Specialists, Infectious Disease, and Internal Medicine Staff in Your Facility

• Four new cases of invasive meningococcal disease have occurred in men who have sex with
  men (MSM) in 2013, bringing the total number of cases to 22.
• Providers must immediately notify the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
  of suspect cases. Do not wait for culture confirmation to report a suspected case.
• DOHMH has simplified and expanded its vaccine recommendations. Meningococcal vaccine
  should now be offered to:
  • (a) All HIV-infected MSM
  • (b) MSM, regardless of HIV status, who regularly have close or intimate contact with men met through an online website, digital application (“app”), or at a bar or party.
  
  

Excerpts from the public press release:

Recent Meningitis Outbreak

March 6, 2013 – The Health Department issued new recommendations today for vaccinating against invasive meningococcal disease – commonly known as meningitis – after an increase in cases.

Vaccinations are now advised for men, regardless of HIV status, who regularly have intimate contact with other men met through a website, digital application (“App”), or at a bar or party. The Health Department also continues to recommend vaccinations for all HIV-positive men who have sex with men. Individuals who are not sure if they meet the criteria are advised to discuss their need for vaccination with their health care providers.

“Meningitis symptoms usually come on quickly, and the disease can be fatal if not treated right away,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley. “Vaccination is the best defense. I urge all men who meet these criteria – regardless of whether they identify as gay – to get vaccinated now and protect themselves from this disease before it is too late.”

Individuals who meet some, but not all, of the criteria are advised to discuss their need for vaccination with their health care provider.

- Read the most recent press release

For more on Meningococcal Meningitis, The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene maintains a FAQ page.

Meningococcal Meningitis

What is invasive meningococcal disease?

Invasive meningococcal disease is a severe infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus) that includes both meningitis (infection of the meninges - a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord) or meningococcemia (infection of the blood). The infection can also occur as pneumonia (an infection of the lungs) or in joints, such as the knees. In 2009, there were 17 cases of invasive meningococcal disease reported among New York City residents (rate of 0.21 cases per 100,000 persons).
Who gets invasive meningococcal disease?

Anyone can get invasive meningococcal disease. Infants < 12 months of age have the highest rates of disease. Clusters of cases and outbreaks do occur but are rare in the United States.

How is invasive meningococcal disease spread?

The meningococcus is spread by direct close contact with nose or throat discharges of an infected person. About eight percent of healthy people carry this particular bacterium in their nose and throat without any signs of illness. Why certain people become ill upon acquiring the organism is not fully understood. Close living quarters, such as in military barracks and dormitories, favor transmission of the organism. What are the symptoms of invasive meningococcal disease?

Although most people exposed to the meningococcus bacteria do not become seriously ill, some may develop fever, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and a rash. Sometimes the disease can be fatal.
(Continue . . . )

The CDC’s webpage on Meningococcal Disease.

Posted by Michael Coston at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://afludiary.blogspot.com/2013/03/nyc-updates-msm-meningitis-warning.html" rel="bookmark" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" title="2013-03-07T09:11:00-05:00">9:11 AM</abbr>

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://www.healthmap.org/news/mening...ndations-32213

The Disease DailyMar 22, 2013

Meningitis Outbreak Prompts Change in Vaccine Recommendations
Mar 22, 2013

By Katharina Schwan
Photo credit: Carsten Lorentzen March 2013, via Flickr

In 2012, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) calculated a troubling statistic: the rate of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in men who have sex with men (MSM) was about 50 times higher than the rate of IMD in the rest of the adult male population. Four new cases of IMD were reported in New York City’s MSM population since January of this year, and three of the last five cases died...

...In this outbreak, the infected men are suffering from both meningitis and blood poisoning...

...In response to the trend of IMD infection in the MSM population, the DOHMH recently changed its vaccination recommendations to include all HIV-infected men who have sex with men, as well as HIV-uninfected MSM who “regularly have contact with other men met through a website, digital application (“App”), or at a bar or party.” Since the outbreak is centered on MSM from New York City, these recommendations are not yet applied to the general public...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013...ries-officials

Deadly meningitis outbreak among gays worries officials
By Kristina Krohn, NBC News

A deadly bacterial meningitis outbreak striking gay men in New York City is unlikely to abate any time soon, New York City health officials warn. The disease has sickened 22 and killed seven NYC men over the last two years.

After four cases of meningococcal disease among gay men were reported in Los Angeles county in recent months, there were concerns that the New York City outbreak had spread, but public health officials in Los Angeles and New York say the strains are not connected...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://www.brooklyneagle.com/article...3-05-17-231700


To fight deadly meningitis outbreak, LGBT officials focus on Brooklyn
By Mary Frost
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

A coalition of LGBT city representatives are ramping up a campaign about a deadly meningitis outbreak found among men who have sex with other men, with a special focus on Brooklyn.

The New York City Depart of Health said that cases of this often-deadly infection of the brain lining are popping up in Brooklyn more than any other borough. Symptoms include fever and chills, mental status changes, nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light, severe headache, and stiff neck. One third of the afflicted have died, a higher rate than typical meningitis, which kills roughly one out of five...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://news.msn.com/us/meningitis-ou...rn-in-new-york


Meningitis outbreak in gay men spurs concern in New York
MSN News 1 hr ago By Riya Bhattacharjee of MSN News


Although New York's meningitis outbreak has not reached panic levels, it's still cause for concern among gay advocates and health officials.

A meningitis outbreak has attacked New York City's gay population and one man, with help from the city's health officials, is trying desperately to stop it.

Demetre Daskalakis ? a doctor and gay activist known among friends as a "public health superhero" ? has taken it upon himself to vaccinate as many gay men as possible against a particularly lethal strain of meningitis that's spreading through the community.

The outbreak has the familiar echo of HIV in the 1980s. But unlike HIV, people are not helpless this time, Daskalakis told MSN News...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...de-events.html


Meningitis Outbreak Spurs Effort Before Gay Pride Events
By Samuel Adams - Jun 17, 2013 5:07 PM ET

New York City health officials are increasing public awareness about a meningitis outbreak, and urging gay men to get vaccinated for the infection in advance of as many as 1 million visitors for gay pride events in June.

Though meningitis is not limited to the gay community, a man in New York City who has sex with men is 50 times more likely to contract meningitis than the general population, according to a research paper published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Since the onset of the outbreak in August 2010, 22 gay men have been diagnosed with the same strain of meningococcal disease in New York City, with seven fatalities, the paper said...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men

Source: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/n...ccinated050713

New York passes Meningitis bill as Florida health officials urge gay men to get vaccinated
New York State lawmakers have passed legislation to allow pharmacists to administer the Meningitis vaccine to curb an outbreak among gay men in the city, while Florida Health officials have urged gay men in that state to get vaccinated
05 July 2013 | By Andrew Potts

New York State lawmakers have moved to allow pharmacists to administer the Meningitis vaccine in the face of an outbreak of a potentially deadly strain of the disease among the city?s gay men...

[Shiloh]

Re: NYC meningitis outbreak hitting gay men- it has stopped

Source: http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/09/...unity-stopped/

Official: Deadly Meningitis Outbreak Impacting Gay Community Stopped
No New Cases In Since February
September 18, 2013 9:02 AM

...Dr. Jay Varma, the deputy health commissioner for disease control, told WCBS 880 there has been not a single new case since February, around the time the advisory was issued. ?We?re very pleased that it appears the outbreak has been stopped. It?s the longest period we?ve gone without a case since the beginning of 2011,? he said...