Public Health Response for Outbreaks

Key points

  • Outbreaks of meningococcal disease are rare, but unpredictable in the United States.
  • Outbreaks can be devastating to affected communities and organizations.
  • In certain outbreaks, CDC recommends vaccination against meningococcal disease to help stop the disease from spreading.
Healthcare provider placing adhesive bandage on patient's arm after injection of vaccine.

Outbreaks

Current outbreaksA‎

Colorado: Cases among people experiencing homelessness


Virginia: State-wide outbreak

CDC is also monitoring

Cases linked to travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

In 2024, there have been reports of meningococcal disease in travelers who had been in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Umrah. CDC issued the following:

Increase in the United States

U.S. cases of meningococcal disease have increased sharply since 2021 and now exceed pre-pandemic levels. View the latest data.

Resources

Guidance for the evaluation and public health management of suspected outbreaks of meningococcal disease

Meningococcal vaccination: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2020

NNDSS case definition for meningococcal disease

Antibiotic prophylaxis letter for close contacts

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Division of Bacterial Diseases
  1. Outbreaks listed here go to content currently published on the CDC website, if available, or the appropriate health department's website.