Context: The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, launched the first-ever global strategy to defeat meningitis, a debilitating disease that kills hundreds of thousands of people each year.
The roadmap includes three visionary goals

1. Eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis.
2. Reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%.
3. Reduce disability and improve quality of life after meningitis of any cause.

Aim

• It aims to prevent infections and improve care and diagnosis for those affected.
• It aims to eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis — the deadliest form of the disease — and to reduce deaths by 70 per cent and halve the number of cases.

Meningitis 

• It is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.
• People of any age can get meningitis.

Causes Meningitis

• Most cases are caused by bacteria or viruses, but some can be due to certain medicines or illnesses.
• Meningitis is usually caused by a viral infection but can also be bacterial or fungal.
• Both kinds of meningitis spread like most other common infections do — someone who’s infected touches, kisses, or coughs or sneezes on someone who isn’t infected.
• Bacterial meningitis is rare, but is usually serious and can be life-threatening if not treated right away.

Viral meningitis (also called aseptic meningitis) is more common than bacterial meningitis and usually less serious.

• Many of the viruses that cause meningitis are common, such as those that cause colds, diarrhea, cold sores, and the flu.

Signs & Symptoms of Meningitis

• Meningitis symptoms vary, depending on the person’s age and the cause of the infection.
• The first symptoms can come on quickly or start several days after someone has had a cold, diarrhea, vomiting, or other signs of an infection.
• Common symptoms include: fever; lack of energy; irritability; headache; sensitivity to light; stiff neck; skin rash

Treatment

• Several vaccines protect against meningitis, including meningococcal, Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal vaccines.
• If dealt with quickly, meningitis can be treated successfully.