The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has identified a new case of invasive Neisseria meningitidis infection among local men who have sex with men (MSM), bringing this year?s incidence to nine and the three-year total to 14 cases. Nine of these cases have been in HIV-positive men, and three out of the four who have died were HIV positive. All the men were between 21 and 59 years old. Pointing out that 2012?s incidence among MSM is 23 times higher than in the general New York City population, the health department reinforced its October 4 call for meningococcal vaccines. Ask your health provider for a vaccine to protect against this potentially fatal infection if you meet all these criteria:

1.    Men who are both HIV positive and living in New York City
2.    Men who have had intimate contact with another man met through a website or phone app (such as Grindr or Manhunt) or at a bar or party since September 1, 2012

If you only meet some of these criteria, you are encouraged to discuss the vaccine with your health provider.  

For previous AIDSmeds articles on this topic, including information on symptoms of meningitis and how to obtain a vaccine, click here and here.