"Because of the outbreak in Florida, and the number of Pride events being held across the state in coming weeks, it’s important that gay and bisexual men who live in Florida get vaccinated, and those traveling to Florida talk to their healthcare provider about getting a MenACWY vaccine."   .

The agency has reported at least 24 cases and 6 deaths among gay and bisexual men related to this disease, with approximately half of the outbreak cases among Hispanic men.  .

The cases related to the current outbreak are most among those who live in Florida but also affected some who traveled to the state. 

The CDC recommends the MenACWY vaccine, which protects against meningococcal disease caused by four strains of the meningococcal bacteria – A, C, W and Y.  

The outbreak is caused by serotype C, but there are six serotypes that cause the disease worldwide, although mainly serotypes B, C and Y cause most of meningococcal cases in the United States. 

The CDC is also monitoring a monkeypox outbreak in countries that normally don’t report the disease, with early data showing high numbers among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. 

Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. 

It is not as contagious as cold or flu germs, so people don’t get infected with the bacteria through "casual contact" or breathing the air where someone with active meningococcal disease has been. 

But when the bacteria invades the body, it can cause two main illness: septicemia, where the bacteria invades the bloodstream and causes organ damage; and meningitis, which is an inflammation of the protective membranes (known as the meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord.