The 5th of October 2025 commemorated World Meningitis Day, which focuses on raising awareness and encouraging action against meningitis globally.
Meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, affects 2.3 million people globally, with 83% of cases reported in low and lower-middle-income countries (1). Meningitis survivors are often left with life-altering complications such as hearing loss, seizures or cognitive difficulties. However, meningitis is largely preventable and treatable when recognised early.
Infection by microorganisms, such as bacteria, virus or fungi, is primary cause of meningitis, and it makes meningitis as 5th most common cause of death in children under the age of 5 years old (1). Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are the primary causes of bacterial meningitis, particularly in children under the age of 5 years old. Overall, a decline in bacterial meningitis incidence and mortality has declined over years (2) – likely due to vaccinations (in particular pneumococcal, meningococcal and Haemophilus influenzeae vaccines), antibiotic access improvements and overall improvements in public health interventions globally.
Despite all the progress made to date, the burden remains and it is heavily skewed towards very young children and children in low- and middle- income countries. In 2021, a global roadmap for defeating meningitis by 2030 has been published by World Health Organisation (3) highlighting key pillars that will help to achieve this goal. These include:
- Prevention and epidemic control
- Diagnosis and treatment
- Disease surveillance
- Support and care for people affected by meningitis
- Advocacy and engagement
All of this comes together in needed to ensure surveillance, vaccine strategies and antimicrobial approaches remain adaptive to evolving pathogen patterns; as well as sustained vaccination coverage, improved neonatal/infant care (especially in underserved settings), and targeted resource allocation that addresses the inequities in burden. And most importantly, it highlights the importance of global collaboration - together, we can make meningitis a disease of the past.
Written by ISID Emerging Leader, Elita Jauneikaite