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.
Contagious Period: Varies by disease
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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
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3d rendered image of meningitis cells in a natural environment(Image: Kirill Rudenko via Getty Images) Britons have been urged to remain vigilant for meningitis warning signs following a fresh cluster of cases in Reading which claimed one life and left two others requiring medical care. The most recent cases, verified by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today, emerge weeks following an outbreak in Kent that resulted in two deaths and several other individuals falling ill. One of the Reading cases has been identified as meningitis B - the identical strain responsible for the Kent cluster. The student who lost their life in the Reading outbreak was enrolled at Henley College in Oxfordshire. The UKHSA states that close contacts are being provided with antibiotics as a preventative measur...
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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
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3d rendered image of Meningitis bacteria (Image: Kirill Rudenko via Getty Images) Britons have been urged to remain vigilant about the warning signs of meningitis following a fresh cluster of cases in Reading that left one person dead and two others requiring medical attention. The latest cases, confirmed by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today, emerge just weeks after an outbreak in Kent in which two people lost their lives and several others fell ill. One of the cases identified in Reading has been confirmed as meningitis B - the same strain responsible for the cluster of cases in Kent. The student who died following the outbreak in Reading was enrolled at Henley College in Oxfordshire. The UKHSA has said close contacts are being offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure and ...
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Mato Grosso state is experiencing a geographically diffuse meningitis situation in late May 2026, with 53 confirmed cases and eight deaths spanning approximately 20 municipalities, occurring during the established autumn–winter seasonal peak for bacterial meningitis in Brazil. State health authorities have not declared an outbreak, citing case counts below the same period in 2025 and characterising transmission as family-confined, though the multi-municipality spread and a case fatality proportion above the national historical average warrant continued close surveillance. The causative pathogen remains unspecified, limiting assessment of vaccine-strain alignment and comparability with national baseline data.
Source: BEACON - View Full Report
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
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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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In response to the findings, the DMSC has alerted provincial health authorities to manage the risk and advises the public to avoid eating raw or undercooked pork. Dr Sarawut Boonsuk, Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences (DMSC), said Streptococcus suis is a Gram-positive bacterium found in the upper respiratory tract, tonsils, and digestive tract of pigs or other mammals. People can become infected through contact with diseased animals or animals carrying the pathogen via wounds, abrasions, or the conjunctiva, or by consuming meat, offal, or blood from pigs that have not been properly cooked, or through bacterial contamination. The infection may cause severe symptoms such as bloodstream infection, meningitis, permanent hearing loss, known as "deafness fever", and death. Ac...
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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,
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
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View WHO Resources →Disease information on Virus Watcher is reviewed by our Chief Epidemiologist, a former CDC lead analyst for FluSight forecasting. Outbreak data is aggregated from verified sources including BEACON, ProMED, WHO, CDC, and 50+ national health agencies. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-18
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