“The occurrence of clusters of invasive meningococcal disease among MSM [men who have sex with men] in European metropolitan centres caused by a strain that has been associated with a similar outbreak with a high case-fatality rate in New York City indicates an increased risk of IMD among MSM in such settings in Europe.
This assessment is related to clusters of cases of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by Neisseria meningitidis – serogroup C affecting men who have sex with men (MSM).
The organism can cause invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), which presents as septicaemia, meningitis, or both. Most cases in Europe are caused by N. meningitidis serogroups B and C. Overall, IMD has a case-fatality rate of around 10%; however, case fatality rates are sometimes higher in outbreaks and among cases due to -serogroup C- [MSM]”
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European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, 2013