Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria, but can also be due to fungi or parasites. While anyone can get it, infants, young children, and adolescents are particularly vulnerable, with bacterial forms being a medical emergency.
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Descriptions of meningitis-like symptoms date back centuries, but *epidemic meningitis*, caused by *Neisseria meningitidis*, was first clearly documented in the early 19th century. Historically, it caused devastating epidemics with high mortality rates globally. The development of *antibiotics* and *vaccines* in the 20th century dramatically transformed its prognosis and prevention.
Meningitis-causing pathogens typically spread through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, or through close, prolonged contact with an infected person's saliva or nasal secretions. This includes kissing, sharing eating utensils, or living in close quarters. It is generally not spread through casual contact, but specific agents like enteroviruses can spread via the fecal-oral route.
PerÃodo de Contagio: Varies by disease
3 countries with reported activity. Updated from real-time surveillance data.
Inteligencia en tiempo real de monitoreo global de salud y vigilancia impulsada por IA
Fuentes de datos: BEACON, ProMED, OMS, CDC y más de 50 agencias nacionales de salud
✓ Datos en vivo actualizados en tiempo real desde fuentes de salud globales
A million young people are being offered a free meningitis B vaccine.
It comes after concerns over the UK's largest and fastest growing outbreak that happened in Kent earlier this year.
Nearly 90,000 doses of the vaccine have already been given, with 135,000 more booked in for the coming weeks.
So who needs the vaccine, what's in it and where can you get it for free?
The vaccine offers protection against a dangerous strain of meningitis called meningitis B (MenB) that caused the outbreak in K
A Meningitis B vaccination programme targeting young people and university students in Northern Ireland will roll out from 31 July, NI's chief medical officer has said.
It follows an outbreak in England earlier this year, in which two people - a university student and a sixth-form pupil - died.
The two-dose vaccine will be offered to those deemed most at risk from the infection, including Year 14 students and under-25s starting university or a Higher Education institution for the first time thi
📰 14 news sources reporting on this story.
🔗 Read more at BBC
The parents of a university student who died from meningitis B say new vaccine advice represents a "poignant moment" and will save countless lives.
Helen and Lee Draper from Pontypool, Torfaen, lost their 18-year-old daughter Meg to meningitis B (MenB) in October 2025, just weeks after she started at the University of Bournemouth.
Last week, official advice changed, telling governments they should offer a free jab from age 15 - despite previously saying this was not cost effective.
The Welsh g
📰 13 news sources reporting on this story.
🔗 Read more at BBC
Health officials have urged young people to take up a free vaccine which could protect them against meningitis (MenB) before they go to university or college.
On Tuesday, the Public Health Agency (PHA) confirmed an urgent rollout of the two-dose vaccination will begin in GP practices and some community pharmacies in Northern Ireland from 31 July.
It follows concerns over the UK's largest and fastest growing outbreak at a university in England earlier this year, in which two people died.
The PH
JCVI says children should have one or two doses of menB vaccine at age 15, depending on if they had one as a baby
Teenagers should be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against deadly meningitis B (menB), government advisers have recommended.
The move by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which needs approval from the government, means young people should get a jab around the age of 15, with catch-up programmes for those who would otherwise miss out.
It follows a
📰 20 news sources reporting on this story.
A million young people in England, Wales and Scotland will be offered a vaccine to help protect against meningitis B.
The one-off programme has been launched after concerns over the UK's largest and fastest growing meningitis B outbreak to date in Kent this year and two further "unusual" clusters in Weymouth in Dorset and Reading in Berkshire.
The two-dose vaccine will be available to pupils currently in their last year of secondary school and those aged 18 to 25 heading to university or reside
📰 55 news sources reporting on this story.
Health officials have confirmed a case of meningitis at the University of Surrey.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was in touch with close contacts of the case and arranging vaccination and preventative antibiotic appointments.
It added there is no evidence that it is linked to any previous cases or outbreaks, and that the risk to the public remains low.
The agency added it is sharing advice with students to raise awareness around signs and symptoms of the disease.
Jaime Morgan,
🔗 Read more at ITV Hub
Daveigh Chase, the young actress best known for "The Ring" and "Lilo & Stitch," has reportedly died. She was 35.
Daveigh Chase, the young actress best known for "The Ring" and "Lilo & Stitch," has reportedly died at 35 from meningitis and an infection in her blood, her boyfriend Roy Hernandez told TMZ.
Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord that provide structural support, cushioning tissue, improved circulation and more.
There are
📰 13 news sources reporting on this story.
Hundreds of thousands of students across England preparing for university this autumn are now eligible to book vital meningitis B vaccine appointments at pharmacies.
The one-off vaccination programme targets Year 13 pupils aged 17 and 18, requiring two doses administered at least 28 days apart.
Additionally, individuals under 25 attending university or other residential further education institutions this autumn can also secure appointments, with jabs commencing from 20 July.
This initiative f
📰 17 news sources reporting on this story.
An emergency room for babies has opened at the Safra Children's Hospital at Sheba A 3-year-old boy arrived at the emergency department of Dana Children's Hospital at Ichilov on Saturday morning in septic shock, with a clinical suspicion of meningococcemia. It should be noted that this was not meningitis. Despite the staff's efforts and resuscitation attempts, the medical team was forced to pronounce him dead. In a separate incident, a 2-year-old child who died at Soroka Hospital in Beersheba also died from meningococcemia. Meningococcus is a relatively rare but especially aggressive disease. In most cases, fever in children is caused by mild viral illnesses, but meningococcus can quickly lead to severe bloodstream infection, organ failure, and death. Alongside the need for early detection,...
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Información confiable de las principales organizaciones de salud
Orientación oficial de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades de EE. UU.
Ver Recursos del CDC →Vigilancia global de enfermedades y directrices de la Organización Mundial de la Salud
Ver Recursos de la OMS →Últimas investigaciones revisadas por pares y estudios clÃnicos
Ver Investigación →La información sobre enfermedades en Virus Watcher es revisada por nuestro Epidemiólogo Jefe, ex analista principal del CDC para el pronóstico FluSight. Los datos de brotes se agregan de fuentes verificadas incluyendo BEACON, ProMED, OMS, CDC y más de 50 agencias nacionales de salud. Esta información es con fines educativos y no debe reemplazar el asesoramiento médico profesional.
Última revisión: 2026-08-13
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