Why Am I Coughing So Much?

Simple Ways To Prevent Meningitis

Each year, thousands of people contract meningitis, especially young people. Meninges are the protective layer around the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis occurs when bacteria, viruses, or fungi attack the meninges and cause inflammation of the nervous tissue. Some types of meningitis are contagious. You can get it from kissing, drinking, or eating after someone, and from living in close quarters with an infected person.

Meningitis can lead to hearing loss, brain damage, and even death. The most common symptoms are headache, stiff neck, and fever. Although meningitis sounds scary, you can protect yourself, and your loved ones with a few simple precautions. Make sure you've been vaccinated against meningitis. This vaccine is usually given to 12-year-olds with a booster at 16.

Other steps include common sense practices, like washing your hands after using the bathroom, or being in a crowd of people. Avoid sharing drinks or other personal items, like lipstick, silverware, or toothbrushes, staying away from people who are maybe infected. Boost your immune system with a healthy diet full of fruits and veggies, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise. And if you think you may have been exposed to meningitis, see a medical professional as soon as possible. ","publisher":"WebMD Video"} ]]>

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Each year, thousands of people contract meningitis, especially young people. Meninges are the protective layer around the brain and the spinal cord. Meningitis occurs when bacteria, viruses, or fungi attack the meninges and cause inflammation of the nervous tissue. Some types of meningitis are contagious. You can get it from kissing, drinking, or eating after someone, and from living in close quarters with an infected person.

Meningitis can lead to hearing loss, brain damage, and even death. The most common symptoms are headache, stiff neck, and fever. Although meningitis sounds scary, you can protect yourself, and your loved ones with a few simple precautions. Make sure you've been vaccinated against meningitis. This vaccine is usually given to 12-year-olds with a booster at 16.

Other steps include common sense practices, like washing your hands after using the bathroom, or being in a crowd of people. Avoid sharing drinks or other personal items, like lipstick, silverware, or toothbrushes, staying away from people who are maybe infected. Boost your immune system with a healthy diet full of fruits and veggies, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise. And if you think you may have been exposed to meningitis, see a medical professional as soon as possible.

Can We Combat The Menace Of Meningitis?

Some countries offer routine meningitis vaccination to adolescents, but only a few countries offer both vaccines Credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

In 1997, Vega Masignani, a biotechnology PhD student, joined a small team of scientists led by Rino Rappuoli, who pioneered the reverse vaccinology approach. They mined the genome sequence of the virulent meningococcus bacterium Neisseria meningitidis in search of novel antigens for new vaccines.

Now, 25 years later, as a vaccinology project leader at GSK, Masignani continues her journey with Rappuoli – vaccines chief scientist – and points to the progress made in developing effective meningococcal vaccines.

However, these advances have not yet done enough to eliminate the threat of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). Although rare, IMD is unpredictable and can strike alarmingly quickly: it is fatal in up to 20% of cases (Ruiz Garcia, Y. Et al. Infect Dis Ther, 11; 2022). Infants, children and adolescents are most at risk of contracting the disease, and those who survive can suffer severe long-term consequences, including hearing loss, learning disability, brain damage and limb amputation. N. Meningitidis, spread by respiratory droplets, has the potential to cause serious epidemics.

"I am proud of our contribution to immunization with the antigens we identified," says Masignani, "but the scientific battle against bacterial meningitis continues."

Towards broader vaccination

N. Meningitidis is classified into 12 serogroups based on its capsular polysaccharide. Almost all cases of IMD are caused by serogroups A, B, C, W, X and Y. Serogroup X is the rarest, and geographically confined. The epidemiology of IMD in different regions can be diverse and variable over time.

Neisseria meningitidis, a bacterium causing invasive meningococcal disease can invade the cerebrospinal fluid and may cause severe neurological issues even in patients who recover. Credit: Science Photo Library/Alamy

Effective vaccines are available against the ACWY groups (MenACWY), alongside separate MenB vaccines. However, despite successful vaccination programmes in some countries, uptake is patchy worldwide – particularly for MenB vaccines where many countries recommend vaccination only for individuals at high risk.

"There is an inconsistent approach towards meningococcal vaccine implementation," says Masignani. A broad and consistent immunization strategy is one route to preventing IMD outbreaks and fatalities.

Woo-Yun Sohn, GSK's global medical affairs lead, emphasizes two priority areas for tackling IMD. The first is a worldwide awareness-raising effort aimed at policy makers, clinicians, pharmacists, parents and the public, emphasizing the dangers of the disease and the effectiveness of preventative vaccines. Dialogue between parents and clinicians is particularly important for increasing immunization uptake (Opel, D.J. Et al, Pediatrics 132; 2013). The second is extending the use of existing vaccines, while also working towards a combined MenABCWY (pentavalent) vaccine, to provide the broadest possible strain coverage.

Sohn says that few countries offer both meningitis vaccines in their national immunization programmes; many others administer only one. The biggest information challenge, she says, is that many parents believe their children are fully protected because they've received one meningococcal vaccine. "Getting the message out about the need for broad immunization against multiple serogroups is vital," Sohn adds.

Meningitis: meningococcal serogroup B bacteria. Credit: GSK

The road to eliminating the public health threat

In September 2021, the WHO launched a roadmap to defeating meningitis, approved by all UN member states. The aim is, by 2030, to eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis, halve the number of cases from current levels, and reduce deaths by 70%. WHO estimates that this could save more than 200,000 lives annually, and significantly reduce disease-related disability.

"I'm optimistic," says Masignani, "that in another 25 years our ambition of a meningitis-free world can be met. And through innovative research, we can contribute to defeating this dreadful disease."

To learn more about the menace of meningitis and efforts towards broader vaccination, visit GSK's webpage

UK Close To Eradicating Meningitis-causing Bacterial Disease, New Data Suggests

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: 19:18 EST, 28 November 2024Updated: 19:25 EST, 28 November 2024

The UK is close to eradicating a potentially fatal bacterial disease that can cause meningitis and septicaemia, new figures suggest.

There were just three cases of meningococcal group C - the infection which can lead to meningitis C - last year, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.

Cases of the illness are down by 99% since a routine jab was introduced on the NHS in 1999.

However, officials have raised concerns about meningococcal group B - which can cause meningitis B - due to the continued decline in the uptake of childhood vaccinations.

Data shows there were 341 cases of meningococcal disease, with the bacteria that causes meningitis B responsible for 88%, or 301, of cases.

Meningococcal bacteria is a serious and potentially deadly infection that can cause meningitis, an infection in the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms include headaches, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, fever and a sensitivity to light.

The bacteria can also cause septicaemia, or blood poisoning, as well as pneumonia.

There were just three cases of meningococcal group C - the infection which can lead to meningitis C - in the UK last year (file photo)

The Hib/MenC vaccine is given to babies at one year old and helps prevent haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C.

The MenB vaccine is offered to babies at eight weeks, 16 weeks and one year old.

There is also the MenACWY vaccine for teenagers in Year 9 and Year 10, or aged 13 to 14.

Dr Shamez Ladhani, a consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said: 'Thanks to the power of vaccines, we are now on the brink of defeating meningococcal C disease in the UK, but the fight against these deadly diseases that cause meningitis and septicaemia continues with meningococcal B still causing most of the 341 cases last year.

'That's why it is so important that parents protect their children by ensuring they get their infant MenB vaccinations and teenagers get their MenACWY in school.'

Last year, some 91% of children in England received two doses of the MenB vaccine, a decrease of 0.5% from the previous 12 months.

MenB booster coverage was 87.6%, a fall of 0.4%.

Rates among youngsters routinely offered the MenACWY jab in the 2022/23 school year was 68.6% in Year 9 and 73.4% by Year 10.

Dr Ladhani added: 'All teenagers remain eligible for the MenACWY jab until their 25th birthday.

'If they have missed out, it is vital they get vaccinated, particularly if they are going on to university or colleges where their risk of severe disease, and sadly even death, from meningitis or septicaemia is much higher.'

Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said: 'It is fantastic to see the positive impact that continued uptake of meningitis vaccinations has led to over the past decade - they remain our best defence against the highly dangerous disease.

'However too many children are still not fully vaccinated and ensuring their protection is as important as ever - this disease can strike quickly and leave you with life-changing health complications if not treated promptly.'

The Hib/MenC vaccine is given to babies at one year old and helps prevent haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and meningitis C (file photo)

Other groups of meningococcal disease, including A, W and Y, remain very low, the UKHSA said.

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of the charity Meningitis Now, called for 'continued vigilance' against meningitis B.

'MenB remains the most prevalent strain of meningococcal disease,' he said.

'This reinforces the need for continued vigilance, additional research to inform vaccine strategies and support for all families affected by the disease.'

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