Bacteria that cause meningitis on the rise, CDC warns

An invasive meningococcal disease – which can be deadly to infected people – is on the rise, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned.

In an alert issued on Thursday, the CDC warned that there were 422 cases of the disease reported in the US last year, the highest annual number of cases reported since 2014.

The disease, which stems from the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, is a rare but severe illness with a fatality rate of 10-15%, even with appropriate antibiotic treatment, according to the CDC.

With meningococcal disease typically presenting itself as meningitis, symptoms often include fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting and photophobia. The disease could also present itself as meningococcal bloodstream infections with symptoms including fever, chills, fatigue, vomiting, cold hands and feet, severe aches and pains, rapid breathing or dark purple rashes in later stages.

The CDC warned that although initial symptoms of the disease can be non-specific, they worsen rapidly and the disease can become life-threatening within hours. Those who survive may experience long-term effects such as deafness or amputation.