News & events

• Latest news
  • News archive
  • Fighting for a vaccine in memory of Kayden
  • Meningitis strikes Mossley family twice
  • Motocross in memory of Kelsey
  • Survivor Louise launches Big Stroll at Giants Causeway
  • Running in memory of Ross
  • Brave parents raise awareness in memory of Kadyn
  • Friends and family unite to remember Joél
  • Pounding the pavements in memory of Hannah
  • Meningitis survivor takes on personal swimming challenge
  • Raising awareness of meningitis in memory of Samantha
  • Runners unite for World Meningitis Day
  • Torch bearer Sally swims for the fight against meningitis
  • Take part in the Great North Run
  • Walking in memory of Stuart
  • Families step out for Big Stroll North East
  • Pub punters help stamp out meningitis
  • Meningitis UK welcomes Meningitis B vaccine trial news
  • Families touched by meningitis help launch awareness trailer
  • Motocross fundraiser in Kelsey Smart's memory raises £900
  • Pop starlet Pixie ready for charity jubilee concert
  • Team of cyclists taking on Pembrokeshire Charity Bike Ride in Hannah Gwilliam's memory
• Photo gallery
• Video
• Media centre
• Newsletter
• Supporter DVD
• 10th Anniversary
• Information days
• Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign

News RSS Feed

UK charities come together to support World Meningitis Day

18.04.11

THE THREE leading UK meningitis charities have come together for World Meningitis Day on Sunday to raise awareness of the killer disease.

Meningitis Research Foundation, Meningitis UK and the Meningitis Trust say that meningitis and septicaemia kills more under-fives than any other infectious disease in this country and up to 500,000 people living in the UK have had either viral or bacterial meningitis.

Around 300 people die from the disease each year and six families a week face the devastation of losing a loved-one.

The charities are all members of the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO), which has organised World Meningitis Day on April 24 to increase public awareness and call for all children to be fully vaccinated.

Currently, the UK vaccinates children against many forms of meningitis and septicaemia. A new pneumococcal vaccine, Prevenar 13, was introduced into the Childhood Immunisation Programme last year, protecting against 13 strains of the disease, compared to the previous vaccine which covered seven.

This is in addition to the existing Hib and Meningitis C vaccines which have saved thousands of lives since their introduction.

Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine to guard against the most common strain - meningococcal Group B - although one is in development and will hopefully soon become available in the UK.

Despite the success of these vaccines, the UK still sees around 3,300 cases of life-threatening bacterial meningitis and septicaemia every year, with some victims dying in less than four hours.

"For World Meningitis Day our goal is simple: we want to inform as many people as possible about the symptoms of the diseases so that they can protect themselves and their loved ones," said Chris Head Chief Executive of Meningitis Research Foundation, which has the primary focus of funding research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia and improve survival rates and outcomes.

"One child lost or damaged is one too many, and with accurate information, education and when possible, vaccination, we can control these devastating diseases."

Steve Dayman, Chief Executive of Meningitis UK which is focussed on finding a vaccine to protect against all forms of meningitis and associated diseases, lost his son Spencer to the disease, and said: "This is an exciting year in the fight against meningitis and we're hopeful that a potential vaccine for Meningitis B is on the horizon.

"Events like World Meningitis Day are an opportunity for us to highlight our goal of eradicating the disease in the UK, where it remains the disease parents fear most."

Hundreds of people in this country die from bacterial meningitis each year and those who survive are often left with after-effects including deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, limb loss (where septicaemia is involved), learning difficulties, memory issues and behavioural problems.

Sue Davie, Chief Executive of the Meningitis Trust, which is focused on supporting people affected by meningitis, added: "For every individual across the UK who has had meningitis, there are many more who are living with the impact of the disease right now, and for many, their lives have changed forever.

"We hope World Meningitis Day will show them that they are not alone and that meningitis organisations across the world are working together to help save lives and rebuild futures."

Meningitis does not discriminate and can affect anyone, of any age, at any time.

Those most at risk are children under the age of five, those aged between 15 and 19, and people over 65. There are also believed to be more than 6,000 cases of viral meningitis in the UK every year. Viral meningitis is rarely life-threatening, although it can leave people with debilitating after-effects.

It is hoped people around the globe will join hands to mark World Meningitis Day and draw attention to meningitis and its life changing after-effects.

In the UK this will be through a virtual joining of hands on www.comoonline.org

For further information, or to make a donation, visit www.meningitisuk.org, www.meningitis-trust.org or www.meningitis.org