Six people are dead and 24 cases have been reported amid an outbreak of meningococcal disease in Florida that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling “one of the worst … among gay and bisexual men in U.S. história.”
Em um Wednesday news release, the CDC said they are “recommending gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men get a meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) if they live in Florida, or talk with their healthcare provider about getting vaccinated if they are traveling to Florida.”
“CDC is also emphasizing the importance of routine MenACWY vaccination for people with HIV,” the group added.
De acordo com to the CDC, “Recent data show that about half of the cases associated with” the serogroup C outbreak “are among Hispanic men,” and the outbreak “is mostly affecting people who live in Florida but has also affected some people who have traveled to Florida.”
Nunca perca uma história - inscreva-se em Boletim diário gratuito da PEOPLE para se manter atualizado sobre o melhor que a PEOPLE tem a oferecer, de notícias de celebridades a histórias atraentes de interesse humano.
In the release, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases Director Dr. José R. Romero disse, “Because of the outbreak in Florida, and the number of Pride events being held across the state in coming weeks, it’s important that gay and bisexual men who live in Florida get vaccinated, and those traveling to Florida talk to their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine.”
Symptoms of meningococcal disease “can appear suddenly and include high fever, dor de cabeça, stiff neck, nausea/vomiting, or a dark purple rash,” o CDC disse, noting that the disease “can first appear as a flu-like illness, but typically worsen very quickly.”
“Generally, it takes close or lengthy contact, such as kissing or being near someone coughing, to spread these bacteria,” eles disseram, explaining bacteria is passed “by sharing respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit).”
VÍDEO RELACIONADO: 10-Year-Old Contracts Meningitis After Freak Accident: “I Heard a Blood-Curdling Scream,” Diz papai
De acordo com o CDC, “anyone can get a MenACWY vaccine at no cost at any county health department during the outbreak” in the state of Florida.
Juntamente com “men who have sex with men,” the Florida Department of Health is recommending vaccinations during the outbreak to all college/university students, immunocompromised people, people living with HIV and anyone who last received a MenACWY more than five years ago.
The CDC says meningitis, which is an infection of the spinal cord and brain lining, and bloodstream infection are the two most common types of meningococcal diseases.
“Getting vaccinated against meningococcal disease is the best way to prevent this serious illness, which can quickly become deadly,” Romero added in the CDC news release.