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Facts and figures

MORI poll results show need for greater awareness

Meningitis UK commissioned Ipsos MORI to carry out a nationwide poll to gauge people's knowledge about meningitis.

The result indicated that 69% of people questioned did not realise there is no vaccine against Meningitis B - the strain which causes almost 90 per cent of all meningococcal cases in the UK and can kill in under four hours.

It also revealed that 38% of parents mistakenly believe their children had been vaccinated against all forms of meningitis - despite there being no vaccine against Meningitis B.

It showed that 78% of people initially questioned agreed that research into developing vaccines against meningitis should be given a higher priority. After being told there is currently no vaccine against Meningitis B, this increased to 86%. 

  

Meningitis by numbers:
 

• Around 3,000 people in the UK are affected by all types of bacterial meningitis each year.
  
• Meningitis can kill in under 4 hours, which is why it's vital to know the signs.
  
• There are 8 main symptoms to look out for: fever, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, difficulty in supporting own weight and a rash that does not fade when pressure is applied.
  
• Over 500,000 people in the UK today have had viral or bacterial meningitis.
  
• Every week, 6 families face the traumatic loss of a loved one to meningitis.
  
• 1 in 10 victims will die.
  
• 1 in 7 of those who survive will be left with a permanent disability such as loss of limbs, blindness, deafness or brain damage.
  
• Children and babies under 5-years-old are most at risk because they don't replace the natural immunity they get from their mothers until school age.
  
• Those aged 14 to 24 are second most at risk, particularly students who are believed to be more susceptible due to living in close proximity to others.
  
• In the past 20 years vaccines have been developed to protect against Hib, Meningitis C and Pneumococcal Meningitis.
  
• There is no vaccine for Meningitis B, which accounts for 90 per cent of all meningococcal cases in the UK.