Meningococcal disease is rare enough that most people will never see a case, and fast enough that the difference between a same-day emergency room visit and a next-morning appointment can be the difference between recovery and death.
CDC's most recent surveillance update reports 463 confirmed and probable U.S. cases in 2025 based on preliminary data, the second-largest annual number since 2013. The agency notes that cases "have increased sharply since 2021 and now exceed pre-pandemic levels," with serogroup Y driving much of the rise.
