The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency released a health alert today to inform local healthcare providers about clusters of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chicago and other cities. At this time, there have been no reported IMD cases in MSM in San Diego County.
The health alert states that a cluster of six cases of IMD in MSM was recently reported by the Chicago Department of Public Health. The cases were caused by serogroup C meningococcus, prompting a local recommendation that all MSM, transwomen, and individuals who have sex with MSM get immunized with one of the available quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines.
An increase in IMD cases in MSM due to serogroup C meningococcus has been previously reported in New York City, with the last case noted in December 2014. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has a local recommendation to vaccinate all HIV-infected MSM and 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.
IMD cases in MSM have been reported in Los Angeles County since December 2012, but the number of cases there has declined, with the last case reported in January 2015. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has a local recommendation to vaccinate both HIV-positive MSM and HIV-negative MSM whose activities put them at higher risk.
The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency closely monitors IMD locally. No case of IMD has been reported in MSM in San Diego County. Only two IMD cases in San Diego County have been reported to date in 2015, and both were caused by serogroup B meningococcus. Since 2004, the number of IMD cases reported in San Diego County has averaged about twelve per year, and when serogroups were determined, 37% were B, 36% C, 23% Y, and 4% W135.
The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency recommends that providers who care for MSM and transwomen who are planning travel to Chicago, New York City or Los Angeles inform these patients of the clusters of IMD cases in MSM in these cities. Of note, the 46th Annual Chicago Pride is scheduled June 20-21, 2015 and Chicago Black Pride is scheduled July 2-5, 2015, and vaccine clinics have been coordinated with the events. New York City Pride week is June 21-28, 2015.
Along with routine advice on safe sex, quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination should be offered to travelers who may be at increased risk for IMD. The at-risk individuals are defined by the local health department in the destination city. Vaccination should be at least two weeks before travel for optimum protection and should be given as follows:
Information about reducing risk for IMD may be found here: http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/prevention.html and here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/DiseaseSpecific/dontswap.htm
