The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert that cases of meningococcal disease and resulting deaths are on the rise.

There were 422 cases nationwide in 2023, the CDC said Thursday, which was the highest annual number of invasive meningococcal disease cases since 2014.

There have already been 143 cases reported as of March 25 compared with 81 cases at the same point last year. The outbreak is attributable to the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis serogroup Y. Serogroups are variations of the bacteria, including the B, C and W serogroups also found in the U.S. and the A and X serogroups found abroad.

A serogroup Y variant was responsible for 68% of the 2023 cases.

Out of last year’s cases involving the Y variant, 17 people, or 18%, died. That fatality rate exceeds the 11% death toll seen for Y variant cases from 2017 to 2021, the CDC said.

The CDC didn’t say which states had the most outbreaks or offer a demographic breakdown of the fatal cases.

Meningococcal disease most often presents as meningitis. Symptoms include fever, headache, a stiff neck, vomiting, increased light sensitivity, nausea and an altered mental state, the CDC said.

Meningococcal disease can also lead to bloodstream infections or bacteremia, the symptoms of which include fever and chills, vomiting, cold hands and feet, aches and pains, diarrhea, rapid breathing and a dark purple rash.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.