Meningococcal Disease in Florida
There is an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida, primarily among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV. Leon County, FL, has also reported a cluster of meningococcal disease cases among college and university students.
Meningococcal Disease in Florida, 2022
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Meningococcal disease outbreak among men who have sex with men
In response to an ongoing outbreak of
serogroup C meningococcal disease in Florida, CDC is encouraging
gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men to:
- Get a MenACWY vaccine if they live in Florida[SUP]1[/SUP]
- Talk with their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine if they are traveling to Florida
In addition, CDC is highlighting that MenACWY vaccination is routinely recommended for all people with HIV in the United States.[SUP]2[/SUP]
Meningococcal disease cluster among college and university students
In response to a cluster of
serogroup B meningococcal disease cases in Florida, officials are recommending the following groups of
college and university students in Leon County, FL, consider getting a MenB vaccine series[SUP]3[/SUP]:
- College and university undergraduate students
- Students living in on-campus housing
- Those who participate in a fraternity or sorority
Find a meningococcal vaccine by contacting your
Meningococcal disease: Very serious, often deadly
The two most common types of meningococcal infections are meningitis (an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and bloodstream infection, both of which can quickly become deadly. Three serogroups of meningococcal bacteria
cause most meningococcal disease in the United States: B, C, and Y.
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Seek medical care right away if you have symptoms
Symptoms of meningococcal disease can first appear as a flu-like illness and rapidly worsen.
Serogroup C outbreak among men who have sex with men
There is a large, ongoing
outbreak of serogroup C meningococcal disease in Floridaexternal icon, primarily among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, including those living with HIV. Recent data show that about half of the cases associated with this outbreak are among Hispanic men. This outbreak is mostly affecting people who live in Florida but has also affected some people who have traveled to Florida.
MenACWY vaccination offers the best protection
In response to the serogroup C outbreak in Florida, CDC is encouraging gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (with or without HIV) to:
- Get a MenACWY vaccine if they live in Florida
- Talk with their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine if they are traveling to Florida
Ideally, people would get vaccinated with one dose (or the 2-dose series for people with HIV) at least 2 weeks before traveling. Learn more about
what gay and bisexual men need to know about meningococcal disease outbreakspdf icon.
CDC is also emphasizing the importance of routine MenACWY vaccination for people with HIV. For the best protection, people with HIV should make sure they have gotten their 2-dose primary series of a MenACWY vaccine and are up to date with booster doses. Learn more about
what people living with HIV need to know about meningococcal diseasepdf icon.
Serogroup B cluster among college and university students
Leon County, FL, also reports an unrelated
serogroup B meningococcal disease cluster among college and university studentsexternal icon. This cluster has only been reported to affect people living in Florida.
Serogroup B vaccination offers the best protection
In response to the
serogroup B cluster in Florida, officials are recommending the following groups of
college and university students in Leon County, FL, consider getting a MenB vaccine series:
- College and university undergraduate students
- Students living in on-campus housing
- Those who participate in a fraternity or sorority
Learn more about
what people need to know about serogroup B meningococcal diseasepdf icon.
Finding and paying for meningococcal vaccination
If you are recommended meningococcal vaccination during an outbreak, it should be covered by your insurance provider. If you do not have insurance, a local health department should be able to provide your vaccination free of charge.
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Find a meningococcal vaccine by contacting your doctor’s office, pharmacy, community health center, or
your local health department.
Footnotes
- CDC routinely recommends MenACWY vaccine for children and adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease during an outbreak involving serogroups A, C, W, or Y. CDC also recommends a booster shot for those at increased risk due to an outbreak who received the vaccine more than 5 years ago.
- CDC routinely recommends MenACWY vaccine for children and adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease, including those with HIV. People with HIV should get a 2-dose primary series of MenACWY vaccine, with the second dose given at least 8 weeks after the first, followed by a booster dose every 5 years. If someone completed their primary series before the age of 7 years, they should get their first booster dose 3 years later and then get a booster dose every 5 years.
- CDC routinely recommends MenB vaccine for people 10 years or older who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease during an outbreak involving serogroup B. CDC also recommends a booster shot for those at increased risk due to an outbreak who received the vaccine more than 1 year ago.
Meningococcal Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know
Meningococcal Disease Causes and How It Spreads
Signs and Symptoms of Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal Disease Outbreaks: What Gay and Bisexual Men Need to Know
Page last reviewed: May 5, 2022
https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/outbreaks/FL2022.html
