Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), on Oct. 14, announced that there had been another fatal case of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) in the Chicago area.
The death took place in September, according to a CDPH alert that went to area health providers Sept. 29. The patient was part of the same serogroup that have caused nine other IMD cases in men who have sex with men (MSM) in the area since 2015. This is the second of the ten cases to be fatal.
In an Oct. 14 statement, Howard Brown Health officials called for all at-risk communities to be vaccinated. Those communities include women and men who live or work on the North, South, and West sides of Chicago and MSM who live or work in any Chicago area.
"It's important to know which areas are impacted by meningitis so we can focus on increasing awareness and prevention in these communities," said Dr. Maya Green, site medical director for Howard Brown Health 63rd Street. "In the past, we offered the same vaccine to all students on college campuses and had great success. This is proof that those of us living or working in at-risk communities should not get scared, we should get educated and get vaccinated."
IMD is a rare communicable bacterial disease that can cause meningitis. It can be spread through activities such as sharing drinks, cigarettes, smoking devices or marijuana, and also through kissing and sexual contact. Common symptoms are fever, headache and a stiff neck. Other accompanying symptoms include nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and confusion.
Howard Brown Health offers free vaccinations as part of primary care screenings at all its clinic locations. Additional vaccination locations can be found by calling 311 or visiting bit.ly/1Jr8C9M .