Jacksonville — With cases at a 5-five year high, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH), is urging immuno-compromised and HIV infected individuals as well as college and university students to get vaccinated with a meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine to both prevent and treat Meningococcal Disease. They are also urging those who received a vaccine against the disease more than five years ago to do the same.
Passed through casual prolonged contact such as kissing and sharing drinks, cases can be serious.
Early symptoms of Meningococcal Disease include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, confusion, and rash. Those exposed and/or those experiencing these systems should immediately contact a health care provider.
In a press release issued by Florida Department of Health in Clay County, officials noted that the rare but serious disease is caused by a bacteria known as Neisseria meningitidis.
For more information about Meningococcal Disease, please visit the Centers for Disease Control or visit the FDOH Clay https://clay.floridahealth.gov/ or call 904-529-2800.