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WHO releases new roadmap to defeat meningitis

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Science & Technology
  • Published
    1st Oct, 2021

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis, a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.

Context

The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis, a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.

About WHO’s Strategy

  • The global road map sets out a plan to tackle the main causes of acute bacterial meningitis through three strategic 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

What is Meningitis?

  • Meningitis is an infection of the membranes (meninges) that protect the spinal cord and brain. 
  • This infection can cause life-threatening problems. 
  • Caused by: viral, bacterial, parasitic and fungal infections

Types of meningitis

  • Viral meningitis: Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis.
  • Bacterial meningitis: Bacterial meningitis is contagious and caused by infection from certain bacteria.
  • Fungal meningitis: Fungal meningitis is a rare type of meningitis.
  • Parasitic meningitis
  • Non-infectious meningitis

How do people get meningitis?

  • Bacteria that enter the bloodstream and travel to the brain and spinal cord cause acute bacterial meningitis. 
  • It can also occur when bacteria directly invade the meninges. 
  • This may be caused by an ear or sinus infection, a skull fracture, or — rarely — some surgeries

Verifying, please be patient.

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