After a year since the last death due to this disease, more gay men have died from the disease in Los Angeles. Although anyone can be susceptible to the disease, the Californian city's gay community appears to have been particularly affected by it and has prompted health officials and community leaders to act.

Since February, three men have died of bacterial meningitis or invasive meningococcal disease, according to Reuters. They were part of a group of eight men who were infected with the disease. One man died in February while the other two in late March. All were either 27 or 28 years of age.

Los Angeles' gay community, which covers the neighborhoods of West and North Hollywood, is at greater threat for infection, according to one medical expert who says men who have sex with men have a higher chance of infection. According to the Los Angeles Times, the medical director of the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, Robert Bolan, said there is cause for concern since the chance of infection is particularly higher among those who are HIV positive.

"I think the important thing to understand is this is not an epidemic," Bolan said. "But there's a pretty strong signal that men who have sex with men, at least those who are HIV-positive, are at increased risk for invasive meningococcal disease."

Bolan, however, explained he does not know why men who have sex with men posses a higher risk of infection. The L.A. Times notes that in April of 2013, Brett Shaad, a 33-year-old West Hollywood resident, died of the disease.

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health officials have asked those at risk to get vaccinated, according to the local CBS station. Public Health director Dr. Jonathan Fielding recommended gay men who "regularly have close or intimate contact with multiple partners, or who seek partners through the use of digital applications, particularly those who share cigarettes, marijuana or use illegal drugs" in Los Angeles' gay community get vaccinated.

Both the Department of Public Health and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation are administering free vaccinations. 

Correction: an earlier version of this article used incorrect terminology to describe new cases of meningitis.