Meningitis strikes in L.A.

LOS ANGELES - Meningitis outbreak in Los Angeles, which led to three dead, so far.

Setosphaeria rostrata, a ubiquitous black mold is responsible for the New England Compounding Center Meningitis outbreak, back in 2012. The current outbreak in Los Angeles prompted officials to encourage at-risk groups to obtain vaccinations. L.A. County Department of Public Health will provide free vaccinations for patients without health insurance.

Three people have died due to meningitis in Los Angeles, the L.A. County Department of Public Health. The department announced there have been eight cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the county so far this year, four of which occurred in gay men, the L.A. Times reports.

Invasive meningococcal disease causes meningitis. It can be spread through exposure to sneezing and coughing and contact with saliva and mucous. Kissing, sharing beverages or cigarettes, and living in group settings can transmit the bacteria responsible for infection.

Symptoms usually burst within five days of exposure to the bacteria. The most important signs are high fever, stiff neck, aches, and an aversion to bright lights.

Officials say that a weakened immune system due to HIV may expose people for contracting the disease, three of the cases being in affected were HIV positive.