Seventh Illinois case of meningitis identified

Health officials have identified another case in a serious outbreak of meningitis affecting gay and bisexual men in the Chicago area.

Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Julie Morita says a seventh case was identified over the weekend. It is the sixth case in Chicago and the seventh in Illinois.

One person has died. Another person remains hospitalized and two are confined to rehabilitation facilities. Morita says that shows how serious the infection can be.

Morita held a meeting Thursday morning with Chicago aldermen to enlist their support.

The majority of individuals who have been identified as having meningitis have been African-American men.

The city’s health department has distributed 11,000 vaccines to pharmacies and other providers. The department has given more than 5,100 vaccines to residents directly.