(Reuters) -The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory on Thursday alerting healthcare providers to be vigilant about an increase in invasive meningococcal disease and urge people to get vaccinated against the deadly disease.

Meningococcal disease, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, is a serious bacterial infection that can result in organ damage and death.

As of March 25, 2024, 143 cases have been reported, compared to 81 cases reported this time last year, according to the CDC.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Alan Barona)