The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is warning about a surge in cases of meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease, a rare but serious bacterial infection, affects the lining of the brain, spinal cord, and bloodstream, and can be fatal. This includes meningitis as one form. In 2024, CDPH reported eight cases of meningococcal disease and seven cases in 2023, which is significantly higher than the average of one to three cases per year from 2017 to 2022.
The latest health alert from CDPH revealed that the 15 cases of meningococcal disease in Chicago between 2023-2024 included nine individuals between the ages of 30 and 60, with eight being Black, non-Hispanic. This alert was issued just two months after the CDC warned about a nationwide increase in cases. CDPH Commissioner Olusimbo ‘Simbo’ Ige, MD, MPH stated that while cases remain rare, outcomes can be severe and urged people to stay informed about the disease.
To protect against meningococcal disease, vaccines are recommended for Illinois residents at ages 11-12 with a booster dose given at age 16. Parents and caregivers are strongly advised to ensure that their children receive these vaccines on schedule. Additionally, everyone should be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease which can vary depending on the type of infection present but may initially resemble flu-like symptoms before rapidly progressing within hours and becoming life-threatening. Symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck nausea vomiting sensitivity to light or altered mental status for meningitis and fever chills fatigue vomiting cold hands severe aches pains rapid breathing diarrhea dark purple rash in later stages for meningococcus bloodstream infection
