{"id":10027,"date":"2023-03-03T11:00:27","date_gmt":"2023-03-03T16:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/surveillance-and-investigation\/?page_id=10027"},"modified":"2025-08-06T10:01:40","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T14:01:40","slug":"meningococcal-disease-outbreak-response","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/surveillance-and-investigation\/meningococcal-disease-outbreak-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Meningococcal Disease Outbreak Response"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Outbreaks occur when the observed numbers of cases are above what is expected for a particular disease. As of February 2025, reported cases of meningococcal disease in Virginia have remained below baseline (expected) levels for at least six months. As such, this outbreak has concluded. The strain associated with this outbreak continues to circulate in Virginia and the United States<\/a>. Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines<\/a> is the best protection against meningococcal disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Summary<\/h3>\n
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From June 2022 to <\/span>February 2025, t<\/span>he Virginia Department of Health <\/span>respond<\/span>ed<\/span> to a<\/span> statewide <\/span>outbreak of meningococcal disease <\/span>caused by the bacterium <\/span><\/span>Neisseria meningitidis<\/span><\/span><\/em> serogroup Y<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/strong> The first case was detected in Virginia's Eastern health region,<\/a> and a regional outbreak was declared in September 2022<\/a>. The same strain <\/span>was<\/span> identified<\/span> causing infections at a <\/span>higher than expected<\/span> rate statewide, leading to a<\/span> s<\/span>tatewide outbreak declaration in August 2023<\/a>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On March 28, 2<\/span>024, CDC <\/span>issued a <\/span>Health Alert Network (HAN) <\/span>Health Advisory<\/span><\/a> alerting healthcare providers of an increase<\/span> in meningococcal disease, <\/span>mainly due<\/span> to<\/span> <\/span>Neisseria meningitidis<\/span><\/span><\/em> serogroup Y, sequence type (ST) 1466, the same strain associated with Virginia's outbreak<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

On February 25, 2025, VDH concluded the statewide outbreak of meningococcal disease following a return to pre-outbreak levels. The strain associated with this outbreak continues to circulate in Virginia and nationally. Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines<\/a> is the best protection against meningococcal disease.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

Outbreak Cases by Region<\/h3>\n
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41 confirmed cases of meningococcal disease<\/strong> were identified in association with this outbreak, including 8\u00a0deaths<\/strong>.\u2020 A common risk factor was not determined; however, genetic sequencing of available specimens confirmed the cases were highly genetically related.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Region*<\/th>\nCases\u2020<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Central<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eastern<\/td>\n29<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northern<\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Northwest<\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Southwest<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/strong><\/td>\n41<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

* The following local health districts<\/a> reported at least one outbreak-associated case of meningococcal disease: Alleghany, Central Virginia, Fairfax, Hampton, Henrico, Norfolk, Peninsula, Pittsylvania\/Danville, Portsmouth, Prince William, Roanoke, Southside, Virginia Beach, and Western Tidewater.<\/p>\n

\u2020 As of: 2\/25\/25, Cases are defined using the national meningococcal disease case definition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more information, please visit VDH's Meningococcal Disease webpage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

General Information<\/h3>\n
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