All articles tagged with #meningitis
The Washington Post notes that with the U.S. seeing more than 900 measles cases so far this year (per CDC), measles is a “canary in the coal mine” for public health. Experts warn that if vaccination rates keep falling, nine other vaccine-preventable diseases could re-emerge, including rubella, meningitis and hepatitis, underscoring the need to maintain high vaccination coverage to prevent larger outbreaks.
A Dorset mother, initially told she had the flu, was hospitalized in 2024 after being diagnosed with viral meningitis. The infection triggered a functional neurological disorder, robbing her of mobility from the waist down and leaving her in a wheelchair for two years, with brain fog and eye spasms. She continues intensive physiotherapy, hopes to reclaim some movement, and advocates for greater awareness and resources for FND, acknowledging the long road ahead but emphasizing the importance of support for affected families.
A Dorset mother’s flu-like illness turned out to be viral meningitis, which triggered a functional neurological disorder that left her unable to walk for two years and dependent on a wheelchair, with ongoing rehabilitation and a push for greater awareness and resources for FND.
Keilly Byrd-Purtell, a 16-year-old in Bellingham, died on Jan. 2 from invasive group A strep infection with meningitis and sepsis. In her memory, her family founded the Keilly Rose Love, Legacy & Awareness nonprofit to educate about rapid infections, support affected families, and fund prevention efforts, as health officials stressed that there were no reported contagious meningitis cases at the time.
A personal account highlights the severe consequences of meningococcal disease and criticizes recent changes to CDC vaccine guidelines by RFK Jr. and the Trump administration, emphasizing the importance of vaccination in preventing such life-altering illnesses.
In 2025, Ghana faced multiple major disease outbreaks including Mpox, cholera, meningitis, and typhoid, prompting urgent public health responses across various regions to control the spread and mitigate impacts.
The death of 18-year-old Meg Draper from meningitis B has sparked calls for the NHS to offer the MenB vaccine to young adults, as it is currently only available to young children, despite the bacteria's risk to teenagers and young adults. Her parents, unaware of the vaccine's availability for their age group, advocate for increased awareness and access to prevent similar tragedies.
A senior at Neshaminy High School, Ryan Duffy, died from Streptococcus Pneumoniae meningitis, a bacterial infection that is not usually contagious in school settings. The school is working with health authorities, increasing cleaning, and providing counseling, but no preventive antibiotics are currently required for students or staff.
A new high-resolution ultrasound device called Neosonics offers a non-invasive, accurate method to detect meningitis in babies, potentially replacing the invasive spinal tap, with 94% accuracy demonstrated in a recent international study.
Children in Upstate South Carolina are increasingly affected by meningitis, which can be deadly or cause severe health issues. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination and good hygiene practices to prevent the spread, especially as vaccination rates decline. Enterovirus, which has no vaccine, is also prevalent and can cause serious illness, highlighting the need for preventive measures like handwashing and not sharing personal items.
An eight-year-old boy, fully vaccinated against Hib, tragically died from a rare, deadly bacterial meningitis caused by H. influenzae, highlighting concerns over declining vaccination rates and the importance of herd immunity to prevent such infections.
An 8-year-old boy from Indiana died within hours after contracting a rare bacterial infection, haemophilus influenzae, despite being vaccinated, highlighting concerns over falling immunization rates and the importance of vaccination. His family is urging others to vaccinate their children to prevent similar tragedies.
An 8-year-old boy from Indiana died within hours of contracting a rare and deadly bacterial infection, haemophilus influenzae, despite being fully vaccinated, highlighting concerns over vaccine coverage and the importance of immunization. The family is warning others after the infection, possibly contracted from an unvaccinated child at school, led to rapid and severe health deterioration and death. The case underscores the importance of vaccination and vigilance against bacterial infections.
An 8-year-old boy in Indiana died within 16 hours of contracting a rare bacterial infection, likely from an unvaccinated child, highlighting the importance of Hib vaccination to prevent severe and fatal outcomes from Haemophilus influenzae infections.
An 8-year-old boy in Indiana died within 20 hours after contracting H flu, which developed into meningitis, highlighting the importance of vaccination. His mother is advocating for eliminating religious exemptions for school immunizations to prevent similar tragedies.