World Meningitis Day 5 October 2024 - Importance & History

World Meningitis Day is a global healthcare event celebrated on the 5th of October every year to raise awareness of the global and local impact of meningitis, a disease that can tragically take a life in under 24 hours or cause lifelong impairment. 

Earlier this day was observed on April 24, in the year 2022, it was later moved to October 5. Every year on this day, various international and national organisations join together to conduct seminars, workshops, social campaigns and other various awareness programs to raise awareness, prevent, detect, support, and eliminate meningitis, fostering global health through knowledge and action.

Importance of World Meningitis Day

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord. These membranes are known as meninges. A bacterial infection is the most frequent cause of meningitis. This disease can be deadly or have significant long-term consequences.

Meningitis develops quickly and provides little time to seek the treatment that it require to survive. It kills within hours, often has life-long health implications for those that do survive, and has serious consequences.

Meningitis is a silent killer, as many people (who has the condition) don’t know about their condition, and the symptoms can be easily confused with other diseases, so it's important to consult a neurologist in case of any headache followed by fever.

Across the world, meningitis kills 1 in 10 people and causes lifelong disability. 1 in 5 will experience lifelong after effects such as brain damage, hearing loss, organ damage, and limb loss. Meningitis continues to cause up to 50 lakh cases yearly worldwide, including deadly epidemics.

Yet, in many cases, deaths from meningitis can be prevented mainly through vaccination. Despite this, progress in defeating meningitis lags behind that of other diseases, with no vaccine available to protect against all forms of meningitis, unable to have equal vaccination access globally, and a lack of understanding about the benefits of immunization. Vaccination against meningococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenza type b protect against frequent causes of meningitis. Over the next decade, new vaccines will save more lives.

Many individuals who are suffering from this disease face life-altering consequences. This can include the need for appropriate support and aftercare to manage severe physical and intellectual disabilities: meningitis and neonatal sepsis are two of the leading causes of profound intellectual disability in the world, and meningitis is a leading cause of acquired deafness in infancy and childhood. Meningitis is one of the primary causes of neurological disability, which can last a lifetime; the worldwide road map Defeating Meningitis by 2030 covers this issue and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

By 2030, countries have committed to:

• Eliminating bacterial meningitis epidemics;
• Lowering the cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%;
• Lowering disability and raising the quality of life for meningitis survivors.

This year, 2024, the world meningitis theme is "Light The Road Ahead". This theme highlights create chain of lights to symbolize the World Health Organization's road map to defeat meningitis by 2030 and in memory of those who have lost their lives or had their lives forever changed due to meningitis.

Year by year, the themes for world meningitis day are:

• World Meningitis day 2023 theme: Light the road towards defeating meningitis
• World Meningitis day 2022 theme: Preventing the preventable
• World Meningitis day 2021 theme: Take action to defeat meningitis
• World Meningitis day 2020 theme: Take action to defeat meningitis

World Meningitis Day, observed on October 5, is a vital global initiative aimed at raising awareness about meningitis, a serious infection that can lead to severe health complications or death within hours. The day focuses on educating the public about symptoms—such as fever, stiff neck, and confusion—emphasizing the importance of early recognition and immediate medical attention.

Last year, over 126 countries participated in activities to promote awareness, showcasing a unified effort to combat the disease. Vaccination is a key preventive measure against several types of meningitis, yet access remains uneven globally. The campaign advocates for increased vaccination efforts to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children under five, who account for half of all meningitis-related deaths.

History of World Meningitis Day

World Meningitis Day has been observed every year by the Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO) to raise global awareness about meningitis as a significant public health issue. Initially it was observed on April 24th, the campaign has been moved to October 5th to allow more individuals to participate. The new date was chosen to avoid being overshadowed by other health programs and to encourage greater participation from partners. It is believed that by uniting behind a unified message, more people will join the battle to eliminate meningitis by 2030. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) has included the recognition of World Meningitis Day in their roadmap to eradicate meningitis by 2030. Confederation of Meningitis Organizations (CoMO) is collaborating with World Health Organization (WHO) to achieve official recognition for World Meningitis Day as a health day.

Steps to Prevent Meningitis

Vaccinations play a vital role in the prevention of meningitis; however, they are not available for every type of meningitis. Four vaccinations are available to protect against bacterial meningitis. Teenagers who will be living in a dormitory or entering college without a vaccination history should get one.

In addition, the following are the other steps to prevent meningitis:

• Intake of other vaccines
• Practice good hygiene, such as regular handwashing
• Not sharing food, drinks, or utensils

Know more about health awareness days