Meningitis Nurse / Kateryna_Kon, stock.adobe.com
GENEVA – Thousands of people die each year from meningitis worldwide, many with severe disabilities after recovering from the disease. World Health Organization (Who is theA plan of action to reduce as much as possible meningitis caused by bacteria by 2030.
This would save more than 200,000 lives a year. By 2030, the number of deaths will be reduced by 70 percent and the number of cases in half.
Bacterial meningitis leads to large outbreaks, particularly in the so-called meningitis belt in 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. One in ten infected people dies, a total of about 250,000 people annually. Two out of ten survivors later live with severe health disabilities. There are some vaccines available, but they are not widely used.
That must change. The World Health Organization wants to boost research on other vaccines, among other things. Countries should be helped to vaccinate more, to provide better and more comprehensive information about risks, symptoms and preventive measures and to bring those affected to qualified medical treatment as soon as possible. © dpa / aerzteblatt.de
