City Council Speaker Christine Quinn is helping circulate an advisory issued by the New York City Health Department warning “gay men and men who have sex with other me” of an investigation into a cluster of meningitis (meningococcal disease) infections that has already killed one man.

Three other New York City gay have been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease.

Common symptoms of meningitis include high fever, headache, stiff neck and rash. They generally develop within just a couple of days. Anyone with those symptoms should seek medical attention immediately. Those who have been in close contact with someone who is infected also need to see their health care provider immediately to receive preventive antibiotics.

Not only does meningitis spread quickly, but it also has a high fatality rate especially among those who are HIV+.

The four men who were recently infected were between the ages of 31 and 42 years old and were all HIV+. In addition to the man who already died, another is in critical condition. Those living with HIV and AIDS should be especially cautious and react quickly if they think they have been exposed to the diease or especially if they start showing symptoms.