The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has announced a statewide breakout of menengitis that includes Southwest Virginia. On Wednesday, the VDH reported 27 cases of the disease had been reported in Eastern, Central and Southwest Virginia since June 2022, which the department said is three times the expected number of cases.According to the VDH announcement, five patients have died due to complications from the disease. Symptoms of the disease can appear flu-like early and can quickly become severe such as fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, and vomiting.