Meningitis

Meningitis

Part of: Prelims and GS II – Health

Context The Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 was recently released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners.

• This is the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis.
• It aims to eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis and to reduce deaths by 70 per cent and halve the number of cases.
• Significance: The strategy could save more than 200,000 lives annually and significantly reduce disability caused by the disease.

About Meningitis

• Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
• It is predominantly caused by bacterial and viral infection.
• Meningitis caused by bacterial infection causes around 250,000 deaths a year and can lead to fast-spreading epidemics.
• It kills a tenth of those infected — mostly children and young people — and leaves a fifth with long-lasting disability.