Meningitis linked to gay men in Europe, US
A new study published in the Eurosurveillance medical journal recommends greater public health responses targeting communities of men who have sex with men (MSM) to deal with outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease in numerous countries.
The study examines an outbreak of the disease amongst MSM resulting in three deaths in Germany over the past year, mirroring recent and similarly fatal outbreaks in New York City and other cases in France and Belgium’s gay communities.
In response to the apparent link between invasive meningococcal disease and MSM communities, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has recommended vaccination of MSM where outbreaks are identified.
