Fairfax Health District Case Associated with Statewide Outbreak of Meningococcal Disease

Department Resources

October 12, 2023

Health Advisory

The Virginia Department of Health is responding to a statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y.
The first case in Northern VA linked to this outbreak has been identified in a Fairfax Health District resident.
People at increased risk for meningococcal disease should make sure they are up to date on the MenACWY vaccine.

Healthcare providers should ensure all patients who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease are up to date on the MenACWY vaccine per existing recommendations. This includes:
- People with HIV infection.
- Anyone with functional or anatomic asplenia, including people with sickle cell disease.
- Anyone with a complement component deficiency or who is taking a complement inhibitor (e.g., Soliris^® or Ultomiris^®).
Providers who are unable to access or provide the vaccine for individuals at increased risk can direct them to contact the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) at 703-246-7100 to schedule a vaccination appointment.
Healthcare providers should also ensure adolescents and teens receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine on schedule at 11-12 years of age, with a booster dose at age 16 years.

Since June 2022, there have been 29 confirmed cases of serogroup Y meningococcal disease associated with the outbreak. Most cases have occurred in the Eastern region (21) with other cases occurring in the Southwest (5) and Central (2) regions of the Commonwealth (1 case in Northern region). All isolates available for sequencing have been found to be highly genetically related.
Most case-patients have developed septicemia. Common symptoms are non-specific and include fever, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches. Several patients presented with meningitis citing stiff neck and photophobia. A petechial rash also may occur. Immediately notify FCHD at (703) 409-8449 if meningococcal disease is suspected based on clinical findings or laboratory results of gram-negative diplococci or culture of Neisseria meningitidis from a normally sterile site.
For persons at increased risk, the immunization schedule includes 2 doses of MenACWY vaccine administered 8 weeks apart as well as regular booster doses every 5 years.
Additional information about the outbreak can be found in a letter from the Virginia Health Commissioner.