The CDC issued a warning in the USA for the spreading of the Meningitis bacteria. Meningitis disease that are spreading in the US since last year, raises concern among the citizens and health care providers. CDC alerted the health care providers about the disease’s spread and they should be prepared for the possible outcome.
Meningitis is a rare disease that has been rapidly spreading in the USA since the outbreak is only treatable through the immediate impact of antibiotics. If people recognize the symptoms early the disease possibly be treated by antibiotics. If it is left untreated the disease turns out to be deadly and causes death among the patients.
How Many Cases of Meningitis Disease Are Found in the USA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted the healthcare provider and patients about the increase in Meningococcal disease, caused by the Neisseria meningitides serogroup Y.
As of 25th March 2024,144 cases reported in the USA, it is highly common in people of the 30-60 age group, especially people with African-American Black people and HIV patients who could be affected by Meningitis.
The disease is hazardous and after the initial treatment, 15-20% of people could die who contracted this disease. The recent cases of meningitis spread by the unusual strain of ST 1466 which is responsible for the Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y The strain has already caused 17 deaths among the 94 patients. This strain already caused the 18% fatality rate.
The Symptoms of Meningitis That Increased Fatality Rate
Meningitis is spread on the brain by the meningococcal bacteria. The bacteria caused the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membrane.
It’s symptoms include -:
- Fever
Chills - Headache
stiff neck, - vomiting,
- light sensitivity
alert mental status
It also spreads in the blood, whose complication is called Sepsis.
It’s symptoms are -:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Cold Hands
- Feet
- Severe Ache and pains
- Diarrhea
- Rapid Breathing
- In the final stages, the purple rash appeared on the body
If a person is suffering from meningitis, if the antibiotics aren’t provided on time symptoms can worsen and lead to the person’s death.
If you have above the symptoms, you should immediately contact your nearby Health care providers. Initially, some symptoms were unable to be acknowledged by the patients, and within an hour it worsened. In the worst case, it leads to the death of the patient.
CDC Recommendations for the HealthCare Providers for Meningitis Case
With the growing cases of Meningitis, the CDC released recommendations for healthcare providers in the USA. Alone in Virginia state 35 cases of Meningitis were reported and 6 people have died.
But CDC said the disease couldn’t turn into an epidemic as it is spread among Black American people and HIV patients.
- If any patient shows strong symptoms of meningitis, the healthcare provider must collect the sample and send it to the CDC, so it can be used for genome sequencing.
- As the disease is spreading among Black Americans and HIV patients, be aware of these demographic patients
- Meningococcal vaccinations are recommended for children below the age of 16
- People at higher risk like HIV and other Autoimmune diseases should take booster doses every 3-5 years.
As the disease spreads in the USA, the CDC is looking into the reason for its spread by checking the patient’s social contact history, whether they have attended any social gatherings together or attended any family functions.
As the disease spreads through saliva and blood, if the person is having initial symptoms of meningitis and they are kissed or shares their cigarettes with anyone, it can be transmitted very easily through the throat or respiratory tract.