Global roadmap to defeat meningitis

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis - ‘Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030’.

The roadmap includes three visionary goals:

• Eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis.
• Reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%.
• Reduce disability and improve quality of life after meningitis of any cause.

About Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is predominantly caused by bacterial and viral infection. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis.

Transmission

• They spread from person to person by respiratory droplets or throat secretions.
• Group B streptococcus (bacteria) is often spread from mother to child around the time of birth.

Available Vaccines:

Meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type b and Pneumococcal vaccines.