CNN —Health officials are alerting doctors to be on the lookout for certain types of rare, serious meningococcal infections that are on the rise in the United States.
Typically, meningitis infections strike babies or adolescents and young adults.
The CDC’s alert comes after the Virginia Department of Health warned about five deaths from the same rare, serious form of meningococcal disease in September.
The infection can lead to both meningitis and a serious infection of the bloodstream called septicemia, or blood poisoning.
Typical symptoms of meningitis infections include fever, headache, a stiff neck, an aversion to light and nausea.
Persons:
Neisseria meningitidis, Dr, Sanjay Gupta, It’s
Organizations:
CNN — Health, US Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, Virginia Department of Health, CDC, United States —, CNN, CNN Health
Locations:
United States